Smuggler flees court after verdict, evades arrest
A smuggler who was convicted by a Special Customs Court in a mobile phone smuggling case escaped the court premises on Saturday in the presence of police and customs officials.
The court had sentenced Adnan Shah to five years in prison and ordered the confiscation of all his movable and immovable assets in the smuggling case involving Rs40 million worth of mobile phones brought from Dubai through New Islamabad International Airport.
As soon as the verdict was announced, the convicts fled the packed courtroom, taking advantage of the crowd. Despite police presence, including courthouse security, local police, and customs officers, he broke through security barriers and managed to escape.
Judge Shabana Rasalat delivered the verdict in the case involving the smuggling of 155 high-end mobile phones from Dubai to Islamabad. The court ordered the confiscation of the seized phones in favour of the state, along with all of the convict's assets.
However, rather than surrendering after the sentencing, Shah bolted from the courtroom. Despite multiple checkpoints within the courthouse premises, he could not be apprehended. The court issued a stern reprimand to the customs and police personnel responsible for courtroom and premises security.
Customs authorities had arrested Shah in January.
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