BUKIT MERTAJAM: A businessman was fined RM33,500, in default 12 months’ jail by the magistrates’ court here yesterday for possession of smuggled cigarettes in 2011.
Magistrate Chiang Kian Hong handed down the sentence on Por Beng Soon, 46, who pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing the prohibited items.
On the first count, Por was charged with possession of 6,800 sticks of white cigarettes of various brands, worth RM204, at a house in Lorong Sejahtera Permai 2, Taman Sejahtera Permai, Alma, Bukit Mertajam about 5pm on May 18, 2011.
The second charge was for possession of 6,800 sticks of white cigarettes and 2,080 sticks of clove cigarettes, worth RM677.6, at a minimarket at Jalan Alma Jaya, Taman Budiman, Alma, Bukit Mertajam at 4pm on the same day.
Por was also charged with possession of 18,000 sticks of white cigarettes and 7,800 sticks of clove cigarettes, of various brands, worth RM2,082 , at a house at Lorong Impian 19, Taman Impian, Alma, Bukit Mertajam at 4.30pm the same day. The charges were made under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act.
In mitigation, Por, who was unrepresented, said he was self-employed and had four school-going children and an aging mother to support.
Prosecution was conducted by prosecuting officer from the Customs Department, Khairunnisa Ibrahim. — Bernama