Lorry driver fined over RM12 million for smuggling cigarettes

MIRI: The Magistrate’s Court here on Friday fined a lorry driver RM12,158,400 in default 18 months jail after he was found guilty of smuggling cigarettes worth RM715, 200.

Magistrate Zuraini Ali Musa passed the sentence on Jong Chun Ang, 32, from Luak who was charged under Section 135 (1) (e) Customs Act 1967 and punishable under Section 135 (1) (III) (aa) of the same Act.

For the offence, he can be fined between ten to twenty times the value of the goods or jailed up to three years or both upon conviction.

Jong was found guilty of having in his possession a total of 1,894 boxes of contraband cigarettes valued at RM715,200 with unpaid Customs duties and taxes amounting RM5,728,752 (comprising of RM1,788,000 in Import Duties, RM3,576,000 in Excise Duties and RM364,752 in GST).

He committed the offence in a lorry bearing the registration number QMR63xx at 4.30pm on November 9, 2015 at Jalan Miri Port here.

The accused pleaded for leniency as he was just working as a lorry driver and claimed that he was not aware of the loads of the lorry.

The court allowed for a stay of execution of the sentence pending an appeal to the High Court and ordered the accused to be freed on RM100,000 bail with two local sureties.

Thomas Abun Nyambong from Malaysia Royal Customs Department prosecuted while the accused was represented by counsels Arthur Lee, Zal Hii and S.H.Lim.