KOTA KINABALU: The magistrates’ court yesterday fined a local shop owner RM3,500, in default, three months’ jail for possessing contraband cigarettes two years ago.
High Court deputy registrar Amir Shah Amir Hassan, who presided as a magistrate, imposed the fine on Subhan Nasir, 50, after the latter pleaded guilty to having 84 packets of contraband cigarettes of various brands valued at RM173.66 at Block H of Lorong Plaza Utama 1, Alam Mesra Plaza Utama here on July 14, 2010.
The undefended accused was convicted under Section 135 (1) (d) of the Customs Act 1967 and punishable under the provision of Section 135 (1) (i) (aa) of the same Act.
Senior assistant director of Customs, Ahmad Samad, told the court that Customs enforcement personnel conducted a raid on the shop premises and seized the cigarettes.
Investigations revealed that duty had not been paid on the items and the accused had admitted to the same items being for sale to the public.