FBR stops alleged scammer from fleeing country

Alleged mastermind behind an operation involving issuance of flying invoices wanted to fly abroad

KARACHI:

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has tightened its noose around the alleged mastermind behind an illegal operation involving issuance of false/flying invoices worth around Rs500 million and forestalled his attempts to fly abroad.

In this regard, the FBR’s Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation Inland Revenue has taken the immigration authorities onboard.

According to sources, this move by the directorate has forestalled the attempt by the alleged mastermind behind the scam—who is also one of the main accused in the case—to flee the country.

Earlier, the directorate upon receiving information about the accused’s plan to leave the country approached Karachi's Special Judge Custom and Taxation with a request to “attach” his passport.

“The accused has already got a protective bail from the Sindh High Court and an interim pre-arrest bail from a trial court and is not joining the investigation,” said the source.

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The court after hearing arguments on the directorate’s application, ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director Immigration and Passport Karachi to submit a report while directing the accused to join the investigation. In its written order, the court noted that the accused could not leave the country without the court’s permission.

In a statement, FBR’s Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation Inland Revenue said it was about time to end this curse of false/flying invoices which results in loss of millions of rupees to the exchequer.

According to its website, the FBR chairman has issued directives to all the FBR field offices to expedite operation against tax evasion and play an active role to stop the menace of fake/ flying invoices.

“While implementing the directions, the Karachi Field Office of the FBR has taken action against a fake business unit which was involved in evading duties and taxes at import stage under SRO 1125.

“The said unit was also issuing fake and flying invoices in the market due to which the buyers were claiming input adjustment and refunds. The said unit has committed tax fraud and caused heavy loss of Rs210 million to the public exchequer. The principal accused has been arrested,” it said.