BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: A 36-year-old Bangladeshi man was fined BND25,000 or, in default, 13 months’ imprisonment for possessing 25 cartons of cigarettes without valid authorisation.
Md Sakender Ali was charged before Magistrate Muhammad Qamarul Affyian Abdul Rahman at the Bandar Seri Begawan Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (Oct 1).
The offence was committed at a farm in Kampong Bengkurong on Sept 23 at about 2.05pm.
Royal Customs and Excise Department enforcement officers from the Bandar Seri Begawan branch arrested the man during an operation.
He was charged under Section 146(1)(d) of the Excise Order 2006 for possessing 25 cartons of various types of cigarettes without lawful authority.
The court also ordered all the seized cigarettes to be forfeited to the Government for disposal.
Cash amounting to BND850 was also forfeited to the Government for further action.
The case was prosecuted by a Royal Customs and Excise Department prosecuting officer. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
