7 News Belize

Satish Sticking To Story
posted (May 26, 2020)
On Friday there was late breaking news about a prominent Corozal free Zone businessman who was caught with contraband cigarettes in his vehicle coming out of the zone.

Tonight we can confirm that he is Satish Punjabi - no less than a member of the Zone's Board of Directors - who has been doing business in the CFZ for over 20 years.

Punjabi was intercepted by Customs late on Friday evening. They found two cases of cigarettes concealed in a compartment at the back of his Kia Sorrento.

He was taken in by customs where he agreed to pay a fine - which is standard procedure. Reports say the fine in this case was over ten thousand dollars.

But, Punjabi says even though the Sunny Brand cigarettes were concealed in his vehicle - he had nothing to do with them. We spoke to him via phone today - and he said it is one of his workers who hid the contraband smokes in there without his knowledge, or consent. Punjabi says he was supposed to get a ride home with a cousin, but missed his ride and ended up driving his vehicle which his workers would usually drive home for him.

Punbjabi says the employee - who has been with his family's business for more than 20 years - has already paid the fine by getting an advance on his severance pay and making a loan.

He added that despite what has happened - because he claims he was not directly responsible - he expects to remain on the Zone's board of directors.

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