...contends that Customs and Excise Division acted illegally
A POINT FORTIN businessman has taken the Comptroller of Customs to court after Customs and Excise Division officers entered his compound in December and seized a high-end vehicle he had imported into this country seven month earlier.
The businessman, Aleem Ali, director of Ansad Services, had his attorneys file the lawsuit at the High Court last week. He is arguing that when the Rolls Royce car arrived in this country in May, he was granted permission to remove it from the Customs and Excise Division and keep it at the compound of his business place at Fanny Village, Point Fortin, based on safety concerns.
However, on December 3, officers entered his compound without his permission and removed the vehicle, thereby reversing the permission he was granted by the Comptroller of Customs he had received in May. Ali, who is being represented by attorneys Jagdeo Singh, Kiel Tacklalsingh, Vivek Lakhan-Joseph and Ananda Rampersad, is further contending that the seizure of the car was illegal and procedurally improper.
AS such, he is now seeking the award of damages and an order from the High Court to the Comptroller to release and return the vehicle to Ali.
According to Ali's claim form, on May 20, the car was imported into this country and during that time, he was negotiating with the Finance Ministry to secure certain exemptions given that the new tax regime came into effect while the car was in transit. After writing to the Assistant Comptroller of Customs, he was granted permission to have the car stored at the premises of his business place and that he paid significant sums of money to compensate officers of the Customs and Excise Division for the overtime required to inspect the car at his premises.
However, after all of this, in December the officers came to his business place and read a document to him which they claimed gave them permission to seize the car and charge him with harbouring uncustomed goods and was also denied his right to make representations either before or after the vehicle was taken.
Justice Davindra Rampersad will be presiding over the matter when it comes up for hearing at the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain.
Source:
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20170411 ... suit-filed
