Bandar Seri Begawan - A twenty-nine-year-old Malaysian man was fined $2,037 or to serve jail for two months in default of payment after he pleaded guilty before Chief Magistrate Hj Abdullah Soefri PD Hj Abidin to possession of contraband goods at the border.

Stephen Sertip Anak Kijon was driving his 4-wheel drive vehicle and stopped by Customs Preventive Officers at the Serasa Ferry Terminal Control Post on September 7.

Officers asked what the defendant had imported or intend to declare to which he answered only beer.

Further inspection of the vehicle led to the discovery of 11 bottles of liquor and 35 packets of cigarettes.

The defendant did not declare the goods and had them hidden in the car to avoid paying duty.

The court ordered for the defendant's vehicle seized by the Customs office to be returned to the defendant while the contraband to be disposed of as the Customs Controller thinks fit.