FBR Imposes Major Penalty on Customs Officer in Corruption Case

FBR Imposes Major Penalty on Customs Officer in Corruption Case

Karachi, October 25, 2024 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed a severe disciplinary penalty, removing customs officer Shahid Naseem Joiya from service due to corruption and serious misconduct.

Joiya, a suspended Superintendent (BS-16) of the Customs Enforcement division in Sargodha, faced allegations of involvement in the illicit removal of high-value goods from the Customs Warehouse in Dera Ghazi Khan. The incident, which reportedly took place on the night of February 1, 2024, was marked by the unauthorized removal and substitution of goods worth Rs 76 million in alleged collusion with smugglers.

The FBR’s disciplinary process began promptly after the incident, with Joiya being suspended from service. An Order of Inquiry was issued alongside a charge sheet and statement of allegations on April 16, 2024, detailing accusations of “inefficiency,” “misconduct,” and “corruption” under Rule-3(a)(b)&(c) of the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020. Syed Ali Akbar Zaidi (PCS/BS-19) was appointed as the Inquiry Officer to conduct a thorough investigation into the officer’s alleged malfeasance.

The inquiry’s findings, submitted in a report on June 14, 2024, revealed substantial violations that had incurred significant financial losses for the government, with only a portion of the pilfered goods recovered. The report concluded Joiya was culpable of “inefficiency,” “misconduct,” and “corruption” and recommended the stringent penalty of “Removal from Service” under Rule-4(3)(d) of the Civil Servants (E&D) Rules, 2020.

Subsequent to the inquiry, a Show Cause Notice dated June 28, 2024, was served to the accused, offering him an opportunity to defend against the charges. Joiya responded by denying all allegations and requested a personal hearing. As per Rule-17 of the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020, he was granted a hearing on August 20, 2024. At this hearing, Joiya claimed he had not been provided with relevant evidence by the Collectorate. The FBR directed the Departmental Representative (DR) to furnish all pertinent documents within a month, ensuring a transparent process.

After the requisite documents were provided, Joiya was given a second opportunity for a personal hearing on October 23, 2024, attended by Deputy Collector Muhammad Zohaib, Assistant Collector Naeem Raza, and Joiya himself. During this session, the DR presented a detailed narrative of the case and played authenticated audio recordings of conversations implicating Joiya in collusion with smugglers and subordinate officials. Verified by forensic analysis, these recordings, along with extensive documentation, provided incontrovertible evidence of his involvement.

After reviewing the inquiry findings, evidence, and arguments presented during the hearing, the FBR’s Member (Admn/HR) concluded that Joiya had failed to substantiate his innocence. Based on the gravity of the offense, the Authority imposed the major penalty of “Removal from Service” under Rule-4(3)(d) of the Civil Servants (E&D) Rules, 2020. Additionally, the period of Joiya’s suspension, effective from February 6, 2024, will be treated as Extraordinary Leave Without Pay (EOL) under the Revised Leave Rules, 1980.

The officer retains the right to appeal this decision within 30 days as per the Civil Servants (Appeals) Rules, 1977. This decisive action by the FBR underscores its commitment to maintaining integrity and accountability within its ranks, as it continues to enforce strict measures against corruption within public service.