Two Chinese nationals were fined a total of BND15,000 after pleading guilty to possessing contraband alcohol and cigarettes without valid permits.
Ding Yanzhong, 38, was fined BND10,000 or 10 months’ imprisonment in default after admitting to two charges of possessing 192 cans of assorted alcoholic beverages and 14 cigarettes.
Zheng Chaohui, 29, was fined BND5,000 or five months’ imprisonment in default after pleading guilty to possessing 192 cans of assorted alcoholic beverages.
The pair appeared before Magistrate Syaffina Shahif in the Temburong Magistrate’s Court on July 1. They were charged under Section 146(1)(d) of the Excise Order, 2006.
The offences were detected at about 10.10pm on May 17 at the inbound vehicle lane of the Labu Control Post, Temburong, by Royal Customs and Excise Department enforcement officers.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of all seized alcoholic beverages and cigarettes to the Government for disposal.