KARACHI: The Customs Court approved interim charge sheet and issued notices to special prosecutor of customs department, investigation officer and called police papers on bail before arrest filed by suspects Muhammad Mubeen Khan, Waseem and Asadullah Pathan involved in a case of smuggling foreign/Iranian origin tiles of different brand and size.
On 23 September 2019, investigation officer submitted charge sheet against the above-mentioned suspects, however, during the hearing, above-mentioned suspects appeared before the court along with their counsel and moved pre-arrest bail applications and argued that their clients are innocent and have been falsely implicated in this case, who are ready to surrender before the court, however, they have apprehension of arrest, therefore, court may grant their bail before arrest.
After the hearing, court granted their bail before arrest against the surety of Rs 300,000 each and directed them to appear before the court on next date of hearing for conformation or otherwise.
According to the interim charge sheet, a credible information was received that a huge stock of non-duty paid, foreign/Iranian origin tiles are lying in the warehouse/godowns situated at Dall Mill, Sultan Colony and on that information, a team immediately raided the aforesaid premises and found 23,092 boxes of foreign origin tiles of different brand and size worth Rs 69,276,000.
He further submitted that due to non-submission of legal import documents of the goods, the customs team took over the lawful possession of the goods in the presume of mushirs and stated loading the goods through private carriers and brought to customs house in the presence of mushirs.
Investigation officer stated that above-mentioned all three suspects are owners of these goods and are absconders and prosecution is trying its best for their arrest and they will be produced when arrested.