LAHORE: Rizwan Mahmood, accused in alleged currency smuggling case was acquitted by the Special Judge, Customs, Taxation & Anti-smuggling after four years of ordeal.
According to details, accused was to board Flight FZ 344 on 31-10-2017 from Fasialabad Airport for Dubai. During checking at ASF counter at under construction international airport, he was found suspicious. The checking of a hand carry bag, Pakistani currency worth rupees 1,400,000 in denomination of Rupees 5000 were found while another 30,000 were recovered from his pocket.
The ASF handed over the passenger/ accused to the Pakistan Customs which lodged the F.I.R under section 2 (s), 16, 139, Clause (8), (89) & (70) of Section 156(1) of Customs Act 1969. A recovery and seizure memo was prepared thereon. The accused was sent to judicial custody and on 2-11-2017, the statements of the Prosecution Witnesses (PWs) were recorded as per prosecution side case.
The accused was sent up for trial before the Special Court. He denied the charges and claimed trial. The learned trial court judge found dents and doubts in the story and held that accused could not be said to be involved in smuggling or committing Havala-Hundi. The court also found that prosecution recorded statements of PWs by delay of two days damaging the evidentiary value of statements of PWs. The court also held that prosecution was conducted in a manner which could not be approved. The bench said that benefit of doubt shall go to the accused.
The court then recorded acquittal of the accused discharging his bail bond ending the four year long ordeal of the accused Rizwan Mehmood.