A 21-year-old local man was fined BND13,500 by the Kuala Belait Magistrate’s Court yesterday for the possession of various types of smuggled cigarettes.
Mohammad Norizzuman Khan bin Dirman would have to serve 13 months’ jail in default of payment of the fine.
The incident occurred on August 8, at around 5.30pm, when Customs enforcement officers from the Belait Branch of the Law Enforcement Division at the Royal Customs and Excise Department, conducted an operation in the parking area of a shop in Lumut, Kuala Belait.
During the operation, officers seized 16 cartons, three packets, and 19 sticks of cigarettes of various brands from the defendant.
Mohammad Norizzuman was charged with one count under Section 146(1)(d) of the Excise Order 2006, which prohibits the possession of untaxed cigarettes without proper authorisation.
Acting Senior Magistrate Dewi Norlelawati binti Haji Abdul Hamid also ordered for the confiscated cigarettes to be handed over to the government for destruction. – Fadley Faisal
