A 36-year-old Bangladeshi man was fined BND25,000 after being convicted of possessing various types of cigarettes without valid authorisation.
Md Sakender Ali would have to serve 13 months’ jail in default of payment of the fine.
Magistrate Muhammad Qamarul Affyian Abdul Rahman, sitting in the Bandar Seri Begawan Magistrate’s Court today, recorded the defendant’s guilty plea to the charge under section 146(1)(d) of the Excise Order 2006.
The court heard from the Customs prosecutor that the defendant was arrested by Royal Customs and Excise Department enforcement officers from the Bandar Seri Begawan Branch at a farm in Kampong Bengkurong on September 23 at about 2.05pm.
The court also ordered the 25 cartons of various cigarettes to be forfeited to the Government for disposal.
Cash amounting to BND850 was also ordered forfeited to the Government for further action.