Brazilian's travails are far from over

KOLKATA, March 25: Jose Ramirez Barreto's travails are far from over. According to Customs sources, Mohun Bagan should move the application for the Brazilian's trip back to Brazil as early as possible. "It's a difficult case. Not that simple as some people are trying to make his fans believe," the source said.
"We have been told he has a new contract.But we are not sure of his contractual obligations. What its contents are. If allowed to go back to Brazil, whether he will come back, since there is always a chance of Barreto not returning at all," the source added. With Barreto being booked under Section 123 of the Customs Act, he faces a jail term of over seven years. "It's a big case and we will not let him go scot-free. That's for sure," the source said.
The official added that Barreto cannot be released within seven days as mentioned in certain quarters of the media.
"From our end we can move the proceedings within seven days. One thing has to be made clear. It's a complicated case. There is The Customs Act, FEMA and court proceedings. It's time consuming."
Barreto was supposed to appear before the Investigating Officer (IO) at Customs House on Monday. "But he didn't turn up. It's not a problem though, since it's just the beginning of the week," the source informed.
Customs officials, said the man who tipped off on Barreto carrying unaccounted money ($ 20,000 or Rs 8 lakh) would make a killing. "His share can be 10 to 15 per cent, which is quite an amount," said the source. It might be mentioned that media reports suggested a source who gives a tip-off usually gets six per cent. "That's incorrect. It's our discretion how much he should get," the official added.
So who is the informer? "It can be someone from the club itself or from the grey market," added the source.
Talking about 'outside' pressure to release Barreto, the Customs official revealed that till Sunday he was flooded with calls from well-connected people. "On Monday though, there was hardly any. May be they have understood the nature of Barreto's crime," he quipped.
Meanwhile, Barreto's lawyer Tarak Mukherjee was admitted to a city hospital after he suffered a mild heart attack. Club secretary Anjan Mitra though, refused to say anything since the matter is subjudice and going by the mood, it seemed Bagan have taken a wait-and-watch policy.