Pakistan Customs Exposes Fake PRC Scam Involving Bank Employee and Clearing Agent
Pakistan Customs Appraisement West has filed two FIRs against a handful of individuals, including the employee of a private bank, who submitted and settled fake proceeding realization certificates (PRCs), with the involvement of the importer, clearing agent, and officials of Meezan Bank.
How the Scam Was Executed:
Collector of Customs Appraisement (East) Karachi Naveed Elahi and Additional Collector Zubair Shah received a good piece of information saying that individuals were present there clearing vehicles by using false PRCs, which were issued by Meezan Bank Ltd (MBL) and submitted by the clearing agent, Aeroseas Transit Agency.
The commerce ministry has insisted on some legal requirements for overseas Pakistanis to purchase imports of second-hand old vehicles. The PRCs appeared to be legitimate, thus the details furnished through the clearing agent by the PRC-holders were sent to Meezan Bank and matched with FBL and HMBL. FBL and HMBL ruled out that the said details did not exist in any record with them, due to which fake documents were produced.
Role of the Bank and Clearing Agent:
The clearing agent, assisted by the consignee and bank officers, despite the fact that PRCs were forged, cleared the vehicles into the custom duty. Early investigation revealed that the parties involved, including employee Raza Mallick of Meezan Bank, conspired against each other while preparing and authenticating the forged PRCs.
Investigation and Charges:
All of the above persons, the importers, consignees, clearing agent Aeroseas Transit Agency, and Meezan Bank employee are held guilty under several sections of Customs Act, 1969, and the Imports and Export Control Act, 1950. The investigation is still on.
Actions by Pakistan Customs Against Fraud:
To discourage fraudulent practices and ensure proper imports into the country in strict compliance with the law, this investigation is part of the efforts of Pakistan Customs. Elimination of these scams by Customs can help maintain fairly imported goods into the country.
