Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan - Six local companies were fined a total of $22,950 for failure to produce income tax returns, a press release from the Attorney General's Chambers stated yesterday.

On September 4, AMR-TUR Corporation Sdn Bhd was charged for the years ending 2005 and 2006. One of the company's directors, Hj Mahmood Hj Yakop pleaded guilty to the charges, which resulted in a fine of $1,600 in total or two months in jail in default of payment.

On September 10, Mega Trans Sdn Bhd was represented by one of its directors Dk Hadinah PDP Pg Hj Apong, who faced three of the same charges for the years ending 2004, 2005 and 2006. The company was fined a total of $2,000 or two months imprisonment in default of payment.

Facing five charges on September 22, Zainal Daud Sdn Bhd who was represented by its director

Abdul Rahman Jaafar, was fined a total of $4,100 or five months imprisonment in default of payment.

On September 25, three Kuala Belait companies, Nur Zafirah Sdn Bhd, ZMY Sdn Bhd and Dandy Jaya Sdn Bhd, were also charged for the same offence.

Nur Zafirah Sdn Bhd faced a total of three charges for the years ended 2006, 2005 and 2004. The company was represented by its director, Siti Khadijah Abdullah, who pleaded guilty to all charges and was fined with a total of $3,000 or three months in jail if the fine could not be paid.

ZMY Sdn Bhd faced a total of eight charges. One of the company's directors, Yong Siew Chin, pleaded guilty to all charges which resulted in a fine of $7,250 in total or eight months imprisonment in failure of payment.

Dandy Jaya Sdn Bhd was represented by its director, Anita Ramlee, who faced five charges. The company was fined a total of $5,000 or five months imprisonment upon failure of payment after pleading guilty before the Bandar Seri Begawan and Kuala Belait Magistrate Court.

Under the Income Tax Act, failure to comply with the notice or non-submission of a return of income and particulars form including the annual audited accounts is a criminal offence punishable with a fine of $10,000 or 12 months imprisonment. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times