Three Pakistani shop operators jailed, fined over contraband fags

KOTA KINABALU: Three Pakistani men were jailed and fined by the Magistrate's Court here yesterday for possessing contraband cigarettes worth RM1,135.80.

Ali Omar, Parvez Khan and Mohammad Zaman, who operate sundry shops, were charged under Section 135 (1)(d), punishable under Section 135 (1)(iii)(aa) of the Customs Act 1967, which provides for a punishment of not more than 20 times the value of the smuggled goods or a maximum of three years' jail, or both.

They were caught during a Customs raid between November 1 and 3 this year, when 130 packets of illegal cigarettes were confiscated from their shops at Country Heights Plaza, Jalan Lama Menggatal and the Menggatal township.

Ali, who was found with 36 packets of the cigarettes worth RM318.60, was fined 15 times the total amount of the illicit items, while Parvez and Zaman were fined 10 times the value of 72 and 22 packets of the cigarettes worth RM621 and RM196.20, respectively.

Magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun also ordered all the three men to serve three months behind bars.

Luxury car dealer jailed, caned, fined for RM2.45 mln fraud

KUALA LUMPUR: A businessman dealing in buying and selling luxury cars was sentenced to six years' jail, three strokes of the cane and fined RM200,000 by the Sessions Court yesterday after being found guilty of cheating a businessman involving RM2.45 million, four years ago.

Judge Zulqarnain Hassan also ordered the accused, Ahmad Haniff Solhi Omar, 35, to serve his prison sentence from today and to serve an additional 18 months' jail if he failed to pay the fine.

In his judgment, Zulqarnain said his decision was a cue to any individual involved in the sale and purchase of luxury vehicles to be careful and not get involved in fraud.

"The decision was made based on the severity of the fraud case in buying and selling luxury vehicles. Up to October this year alone, 455 cases were reported involving a loss of RM15 million," he said.

However, the judge allowed the application by lawyer Mohd Farid Abdul Aziz, representing the accused, to stay the execution of the jail and whipping pending appeal.

The court also raised the bail amount from RM62,000 to RM72,000.

Ahmad Haniff Solhi, was charged with cheating Lokman Kamal Teh, 27, by deceiving him into believing that the transaction for the purchase of imported cars using the company name Panther Car Co (M) was true, prompting the victim to hand over RM2,450,000.

The accused committed the offence at Plaza Damas, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, Brickfields in May 2012.

Deputy public prosecutor Kamarul Aris Kamalluddin prosecuted.

The court set Dec 14 to evaluate the compensation amount to be paid by the accused to the victim. - Bernama

Technician fined for helping to conceal monies

PETALING JAYA: A technician was fined RM3,000 in default four months' jail by the Magistrates' Court here yesterday for fraudulent concealment of money in the online sale and purchase of vehicles on the Mudah website.

Magistrate Salamiah Hassan imposed the fine to Chin Wei Shing, 26, after he pleaded guilty to two charges of helping conceal RM3,500.

On the first charge, he helped conceal RM500 belonging to T. Vija Kumar, 39, by depositing the money in his bank account. He committed the offence at CIMB Bank, Jalan Puteri 1/1, Bandar Puteri Puchong, here at 8.28pm, on March 20.

On the second charge, he committed the same offence by depositing RM3,000 belonging to Nur Sakinah Diyanah Abdullah, 25, into his bank account, at the Zeva Residence, Taman Pinggiran Putra, Serdang, here at 6.51pm on May 8.

He was fined RM1,500 or two months' imprisonment for each charge. - Bernama