BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Magistrates’ Court yesterday imposed over $300,000 in fines after four customs offenders pleaded guilty to possession of untaxed cigarettes.

In delivering the verdict for one of the customs cases yesterday, acting senior magistrate Azrimah Hj Abd Rahman said that there has been a rising number of cigarette smuggling in Brunei with 58 cases recorded in the month of April, according to statistics provided by the Royal Customs and Excise Department.

During that proceeding yesterday, the court imposed a $38,000 fine on defendant Saiful Mahari Hamidon, 30, after he pleaded guilty to possession of over 50 cartons of untaxed cigarettes.

Meanwhile during the proceedings before acting senior magistrate Hjh Ervy Sufitriana Hj Abd Rahman yesterday, the court imposed a $28,800 fine on defendant Mohamed Tanji, 55, for possession of 81 cartons and four packets of untaxed cigarettes.

This was followed by another fine imposed on defendant Mohammad Helmi Omit after he pleaded guilty to possession of 31 cartons of cigarettes.

The court ordered the defendant to pay the $11,800 fine within the eight month grace period.

Defendant Muhammad Khairul Anuar Affandi, 24, was imposed $5,400 fine after he pleaded guilty to possession of 15 cartons of untaxed cigarettes.

The Brunei Times