Port signature forgers let off bypassing law
The 22 clearing and forwarding agents and importers guilty of forging signatures and stamp seals of government officials in the past four years got away with just a slap on the wrist from the Chattogram Customs House -- raising questions of justness.
When the crime warranted revoking of licences, they were given a show-cause notice, a maximum fine of Tk 1 lakh or licence suspension for one year.
The Daily Star was recently able to reach MA Razzaque, proprietor of Marsons & Company, one of the guilty agents.
It, alongside three other agents, was found in May to have changed the samples on their way to radiation tests and forged the signature and seal of the customs officer who sends such samples to labs.
Signature forgery is a criminal offence punishable by revoking of licence, according to customs laws and rules.
But the four agents’ licences were suspended only to be reinstated in July by the customs licensing authority after each paid Tk 50,000 in fine.
Razzaque seemed to be oblivious about the fact that forging signature is a crime. He said one of their staff forged the signature just to “save time” as the designated customs official was not available at that moment.
He even went on to say that they did it regularly to avail goods on time and avoid paying extra duties.
The person who suspended and reinstated the licences is Shariful Hasan, joint commissioner of customs and chairman of the licensing section.
Contacted, he said: “In some cases, we have imposed penalty instead of cancelling licences and filing criminal cases considering the extent of the irregularity. However, there is the option to take action after further investigation.” However, Fakhrul Alam, commissioner of the Chattogram Customs House, said there was no legal way for the agents to get redemption by paying a fine. “In the case of signature and seal forgery, the law states that criminal cases have to be filed against the forgers or their licences have to be revoked.”
Some licensing officials might have dishonest intentions. “We will look into how the agents went unpunished or got away with nominal punishment.”
A two-member inquiry committee has been formed to identify such frauds and the officials involved, and actions will be taken on the basis of the report, Alam added. Signature forgery also took place mostly for tax evasion and clearance of banned and undeclared goods.
