Kochi: In a crucial revelation. K T Ramees, one of the accused in the gold smuggling case, told Customs that an expatriate businessman Dawood Al Arab was the master-brain behind smuggling gold via diplomatic baggage. A copy of the statement of Ramees has received to Janam TV.
According to Ramees, he smuggled gold 12 times and Swapna Suresh had advised him not to smuggle lesser quantity of gold. At least 10 kilograms of gold were asked to smuggle and for this purpose they came in contact with Dawood Al Arab.
Ramees in his statement said that Dawood Al Arab was a UAE national who smuggled large quantities of gold. However, the investigation team concluded that Dawood Al Arabi was a Malayalee businessman with large industrial networks, including in the UAE.
At the same time, Ramees stated that elected representative Karat Razak and Karat Faisal were not involved in the gold smuggling. He said that he has not met them personally and has only seen them in the news channel. Another accused Sandeep Nair has alleged that ‘Ramis Bhai’ was smuggling gold for Karat Razak and Faisal.
When it was confirmed that the parcel containing 30 kg of gold would be seized at the Thiruvananthapuram airport, the team had prepared a plan for the future. It is learned that Rameez had given specific instructions as to whose name should be mentioned and whose name should be kept hidden if caught. The gang’s plan was to surrender Sarith if caught red-handed.