Fined RM31,483 for having smuggled beer
Published on: Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Two shop operators were fined a total of RM31,483.20 by the Magistrate's Court, Monday, for having smuggled alcoholic beverages.Tay Ling, 58, who appeared before Magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus, was ordered to pay a fine of RM19,408.80 or 12 months' jail after she admitted to committing the offence at Kedai Kopi Mei-Mei in Jalan Tugu, Kg Air, at 4.25pm on Sept 6.The smuggled alcoholic drinks found in her premises were 24 cans of Typhon Premium Stout, 50 cans of Hollandia, 40 cans of Anchor Beer, 84 cans of Typhon Beer, 122 cans of Tiger Beer, 12 bottles of Guinness Stout and 48 cans of Royal Stout, worth a total of RM970.44, with unpaid duties/Customs tax of RM2,349.13.
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Ee Kim Hua, 45, was fined RM12,074.40 or six months' jail after he pleaded guilty before Magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun to committing the offence at Pinoy Café House in Jalan Tugu, Kg Air, at 4.30pm also on Sept 6.The smuggled alcoholic beverages found in his shop were three cartons x 24 cans of Skol beer, five cartons x 24 cans of Typhon beer, two cartons x 24 cans of Tiger beer, three cartons x 24 cans of Carlsberg beer, a carton of 12 bottles of Guinness Stout and two cartons x 24 cans of Royal Stout, worth a total of RM804.96, with unpaid duties/Customs tax of RM2,056.65.Customs prosecuting officer, Janet S. Linggu, told the court that Customs enforcement unit inspected Tay's premises and found the alcoholic drinks without any tax stamp and some of them with the "Malaysian Duty Not Paid." label.In Ee's case, the alcoholic drinks labelled with "Malaysian Duty Not Paid" were found in the refrigerator in his shop.
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Tay requested for a lenient sentence, saying she is a widow and has grandchildren to support.Ee, in pleading for leniency, told the court that he had taken over the business from the previous owner only 10 months ago.
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Both Tay and Ee were charged under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, which provides a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the seized items and up to 20 times the value or jail term of up to three years.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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