KARACHI: Customs Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has extended bail of suspects, Syed Hussain Rizvi and Muhammad Rubab Zehra, who were absconders in a case of attempting to smuggle/ non-duty paid mobile phones and caused a loss to the national exchequer to the tune of Rs 25 million.
On the last date of hearing, the suspects appeared before the court along with their counsels and moved a petition for bail. The counsels argued that their clients were innocent and were falsely been implicated in this case, who were ready to face trail, however, they had apprehension of arrest, therefore, the court might grant them bail till final judgment of the case.
After their arguments, the court had granted their interim bail and issued notices to the customs department and special prosecutor for customs department to file their respective para wise comments on the next date of hearing. The court also directed the suspects to appear before the court on the next date of hearing.
According to the prosecution, accused are involved in smuggle/ non-duty paid 109 Samsung smart mobile phones, 643 Motorolla, 15 LG Smart Mobile and others goods which were being smuggled from Dubai to Karachi through Jinnah International Airport Karachi, however, on credible information, officials of the customs department intercepted them and recovered said goods from their baggage.
Case was registered against them for violation of under section of 2 (s) & 16 of the Customs Act, 1969 punishable under section 8, 9 of section 156 ibid read with rule 16 of baggage rule 2006 notified vide SRO-666(1)/2006 dated 28/06/2006 and Import and Export Control Act, 1950