Shopkeeper fined RM1,000 for illegal possession of fags, liquors

KUCHING: The Magistrate’s Court here fined a shopkeeper RM1,000 in default one month’s jail for failing to provide reasonable grounds for the illegal possession of 107 cartons of various cigarettes and 55 boxes of various liquor.

Zainul, 22, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Zubaidah Sharkawi to the charge framed under Section 37(1) of the Sarawak Minor Offences Ordinance 1958.

Upon conviction, he can be sentenced to three months in prison and a fine of RM500.

Zainul was allegedly in possession of the items at a grocery shop in King Centre at around 3.25 pm ​​on July 26.

According to the facts of the case, a raid was carried out by a team from D9 Special Branch at the premises as it was suspected to not have a valid Customs tax stamp.

In the raid, a shopkeeper was arrested along with various cigarettes and liquors with a total value of RM60,000.

Investigation found that he failed to produce any documents related to ownership of the goods and the seized goods did not have a valid tax stamp.

Insp Ammarsoffi Yusoff prosecuted the case while Zainul is unrepresented by a counsel.