BANDAR SRI BAGAWAN: A Malaysian man was fined a total of BND465,898 after pleading guilty to two charges involving the possession of thousands of vape products, accessories and cigarettes without valid authorisation.
Azrul Helmee Abdul Ajiz was sentenced by Magistrate Malai Sharifah Nur Baqiyah binti Malai Shahran at the Bandar Seri Begawan Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The first charge, under Section 146(1)(d) of the Excise Order 2006, involved possession of 1,035 units and 11 sets of various types of vape devices, 3,121 bottles of various vape juice flavours and 19 cigarettes without a valid licence.
He was fined BND419,980, or 32 months’ imprisonment in default of payment.
The second charge, also under Section 146(1)(d) of the Excise Order 2006, involved possession of 2,407 units and 13 packets of vape accessories.
For this charge, the court imposed a fine of BND45,918, or 15 months’ imprisonment in default.
The total fine amounted to BND465,898, with a combined default sentence of 47 months’ imprisonment.
The Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED) said the items were seized during an enforcement operation at a house in Kampong Sungai Tilong on March 20, 2023.
The seizure also included a Vivo mobile phone with a SIM card, BND688.70 and SGD0.10 in cash.
The court ordered all seized vape devices, vape juice, cigarettes and vape accessories to be forfeited to the government for disposal.
The Vivo mobile phone, SIM card and cash were also ordered forfeited to the government.
The case was prosecuted by an RCED prosecuting officer.
