Hefty Fine To Deter Repeat Smuggler
By Rol Ezam

Bandar Seri Begawan - A 53-year-old Malaysian caught smuggling 12 kilos of chicken wings and 32 packets of Perilly's cigarettes was fined $4,500 or 4 months jail in default by Senior Magistrate Hj Abdullah Soefri.

The man, Ho Fuang Lak who pleaded guilty had previous convictions on a similar nature and was stopped in Kuala Belait by Customs Preventive officers at the Kuala Belait ferry point a month ago.

Upon inspecting his car, the officers found the contraband goods, which were later seized and he was detained for further investigations, Customs Prosecutor ASC Hj Jamil Hj Tuah said.

Investigations revealed that Ho had bought the items from Miri for his own consumption and some to be sold to his relatives who requested him to buy the items.

The value of chicken wings was estimated at $66 and cigarettes estimated at $64. All the items seized were forfeited to the state.

In another case a local man was fined $4,000 or 4 months in jail in default yesterday by Senior Magistrate Hj Abdullah Soefri for conveying 90 kilos of chicken wings and 10 kilos of chicken tail.

The Customs Preventive officers together with other Customs officer of the Sungai Tujoh Control Post caught the defendant, Basrillah Awang Zainuddin, 28, a week ago. The officers conducted an inspection on his car and found the said smuggled goods, Customs Prosecutor, ASC Hj Jamil Hj Tuah said.

Upon thorough examination the officers found 5 cartons of 15-kilo chicken wings concealed in the spare tyre compartment, a carton of 15-kilo chicken wings concealed underneath of the front passenger carpet footrest and 10 kilos of chicken tails inside a bag.

It was revealed further that the chicken wings and the chicken tails were brought from Miri by the defendant and concealed in various places inside his car to evade detection.

The defendant also told the officers that the contraband goods were to be supplied to his future father-in-law for religious ceremony of 'doa arwah'.

The estimated value of the contraband goods, which cost $520, was ordered by the ASC Hj Jamil to be forfeited to the state. (Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin)

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