BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

TWO men were each imposed a $10,000 fine yesterday after both men pleaded guilty to their respective customs offence.

Defendant Mohd Hanif Mahadi, 27, admitted that he was involved in smuggling fuel out of Brunei on May 19, 2014.

The court document states that customs officers found the three plastic jerry cans containing diesoline inside the boot of the defendant’s car.

It was found that the defendant did not have approval from the Controller of Customs to export the diesoline. Mohd Hanif said that the diesoline was for his grandmother.

During the proceedings yesterday, Mohd Hanif was ordered to pay the $10,000 fine within the five months grace period or serve two months in jail for in-default of payment.

In another customs case heard at the Magistrates’ Court yesterday, 21-year-old Muhammad Zulhazmi Ajis was imposed a $10,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to possession of 35 cartons of cigarettes.

On January 6, customs preventive officers stopped a vehicle driven by the defendant in response to receiving information on illegal sale of cigarettes to the public. Following an inspection, the customs officers found the contrabands at the rear trunk of the car.

Investigation showed that Muhammad Zulhazmi had brought the cigarettes from an unknown man for $370 and further admitted that the cigarettes belonged to him.

Muhammad Zulhazmi has been ordered to pay the fine by December 31 or serve 10 months in jail for in-default of payment.

The Brunei Times