SARIKEI: The owner of a goldsmith shop along Jalan Bank here was yesterday charged in the magistrate’s court here with pawn-broking (pajak gadai) without a licence.
According to the charge paper read by prosecuting officer Inspector Anbarasu Gobi, the offence under Section 7(1) of the Pawn Brokers Act 1972 (Akta Pemegang Pajak Gadai 1972) was uncovered during a raid conducted by a team of enforcement officers from the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government at the shop on the morning of February 26 last year.
The offence, punishable under Section 7(1) of the same Act, carries a minimum fine of RM20,000 and maximum of RM100,000 or imprisonment of not more than five years or both as well as whipping upon conviction in court.
During the raid, the enforcement officers seized gold items, receipt booklets and a weighing unit believed to be used in the illegal business as exhibits, he said.
Court registrar Mosidi Husseini did not record any plea from the accused and fixed the case for further mention on February 20 pending which he allowed the accused to be released on bail of RM20,000 in two local sureties with RM10,000 to be deposited with the court.