Daily Times

KARACHI: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Anti-Corruption Circle (ACC) has arrested two Chinese nationals and registered a case against an oil & gas surveying company, its clearing agent, Customs officials for submitting forged documents for clearance of surveying equipment, causing a loss of Rs 513 million to the national exchequer.

FIA has broadened the investigation and have sought record of imports from Karachi Custom House to arrest involved custom officials in the mega scam. An FIA official has told Daily Times that after surfacing of solid evidences, an FIR has been registered against a Chinese oil & gas surveying company M/s BGP (Pakistan) International, its clearing agent M/s IMT Co, Customs officials & others, on the allegation of preparing/ submitting fake/bogus corporate guarantee for clearance of their surveying equipments valuing Rs 677 million.

Two Chinese nationals were arrested on Thursday Zhong Zhongmin & Li Chonhong Dy.

M/s BGP (Pakistan) International is also facing adjudicating proceedings before Customs authorities; but, got a stay order from Sindh High Court against the proceedings.

The court directed BGP Pakistan International to deposit 1% of all temporary imports as surcharge on expired corporate guarantees. M/s BGP Pakistan International deposited Rs160 million against 125 temporary imports. During the course of enquiry, FIA has calculated total outstanding amount against BGP Pakistan International stands at Rs 513 Million.

Zhong Zhongmin and Li Chonhong, country manager and deputy country manager of the Chinese firm M/s BGP (Pakistan) International were detained on Wednesday for “preparing/submitting fake/bogus corporate guarantee for clearance of their surveying equipment valued at Rs 677 million,” said a statement issued by the investigative agency.

The Chinese firm, its clearing agent M/s IMT Co, Customs officials and others have been named in the FIR registered by the FIA, revealed the statement. “M/s BGP (Pakistan) International is also facing adjudication proceedings before Customs authorities,” it said, adding the company obtained a stay order from the Sindh High Court (SHC) against the adjudication proceedings.

“The honourable court has directed the BGP (Pakistan) International to deposit one per cent of all temporary imports as surcharge on expired corporate guarantees,” the statement read.

In March this year, the FIA held two Chinese nationals for stealing ATM card data by attaching a skimming device along with a spy camera panel at a local bank in the metropolis. Later, a case was registered against the Chinese nationals who were identified as Zhong Xianquan and Zhong Xianming.

Published in Daily Times, November 24^th 2017.