(Kuala Belait, 26th) — A 53-year-old local man was fined $47,000 by the Kuala Belait Magistrate's Court on Wednesday for illegally possessing contraband cigarettes. If he is unable to pay the fine, he must serve a 15-month prison sentence instead.
The defendant, Haji Mohamad Jepfi, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Nur Ilaina to violating Section 146(1)(d) of the Customs Act 2006.
Case details showed that the defendant, without holding legal permits, illegally possessed 38 cartons and 86 packets of various brands of cigarettes.
The case stemmed from a joint enforcement operation carried out at approximately 3:05 pm on May 6, 2023. Officers from the Royal Brunei Police Force, together with the enforcement unit from the Kuala Belait branch of the Royal Customs and Excise Department, uncovered the case while conducting inspections at Kampong Pandan "A" National Housing Scheme in Kuala Belait.
The court also ordered the confiscation of all cigarettes involved in the case, with the government to handle their destruction; cash totaling $115 related to the case was also confiscated.
The case was prosecuted by the Royal Customs and Excise Department prosecutor.
Case details showed that the defendant, without holding legal permits, illegally possessed 38 cartons and 86 packets of various brands of cigarettes.
The case stemmed from a joint enforcement operation carried out at approximately 3:05 pm on May 6, 2023. Officers from the Royal Brunei Police Force, together with the enforcement unit from the Kuala Belait branch of the Royal Customs and Excise Department, uncovered the case while conducting inspections at Kampong Pandan "A" National Housing Scheme in Kuala Belait.
The court also ordered the confiscation of all cigarettes involved in the case, with the government to handle their destruction; cash totaling $115 related to the case was also confiscated.
The case was prosecuted by the Royal Customs and Excise Department prosecutor.