Two Indonesian men were ordered to settle fines after they pleaded guilty to possessing smuggled cigarettes, or face jail time in default of payment.
Tedi Taufiq, 32, has to settle a BND15,000 fine or risk serving 15 months’ jail for possessing a carton, 30 packets and 17 sticks of cigarettes, while Muhammad Rofiq, 39, is to settle BND33,000 in fines, or serve 19 months’ jail in default of payment, for possessing 36 cartons and 29 packets of cigarettes, along with BND728 cash believed to be proceeds of sales of the smuggled cigarettes.
The customs prosecutor revealed in court that the duo were arrested by customs preventive officers and were found hoarding the bootleg at a restaurant and worker’s quarters, both in Kiarong in a raid at 9am on August 1.
Senior Magistrate Harnita Zelda Skinner presided over the case. – Fadley Faisal
