ISLAMABAD: The first time-ever in the history of Directorate General Post Clearance Audit, Federal Board of Revenue, since its creation, the directorate general has lodged seven First Information Reports (FIRs) under Section 2 (s), 16,32,79, and under clauses 8,14,77, 82 and 89 of Section 156 (1) of the Customs Act-1969 against five importer construction companies and their owners in the cases of import of prime movers. The FIRs have been received in the special Customs Court Rawalpindi.
According to the sources, the directorate general post clearance audit has lodged the criminal reports against unscrupulous elements. The accused have committed the crimes of mis-declaration, fraud and smuggling by clearance of notified goods in breach of restrictions and prohibition in force. Investigations had been completed in all these cases before lodging the First Information Reports. The hearing of cases is expected in the next week and court may order the arrest of the accused.
It is pertinent to mention here that during the course of audit and investigation by directorate general, post clearance audit, Islamabad (‘the detecting agency”) against certain importers claiming to be construction companies and importing used specialized vehicles, particularly Prime Movers, flouted the conditions as envisaged in the import policy Order2012-15. It revealed that importer knowingly and fraudulently got these used prime movers released and cleared by submitting dubious, fake, forged and questionable documents for the construction projects in hand. In June and September 2016, the director general post clearance audit had seized a number of Prime Movers.