Ex-air stewardess fined $36k for smuggling duty-unpaid cigarettes into S'pore
AsiaOne
Friday, Jun 21, 2013
SINGAPORE - A former air stewardess was on Wednesday fined $36,000, or four month's and one week's jail in default, for smuggling duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore.
The court heard that Shahryanty Binte Zam Zam, 24, had intended to smuggle duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore for her friend Mohamad Shidique Bin Mohd Shariff, 24, to sell to his friends at a profit.
Both of them had thought that Shahryanty's status as cabin crew would enable her to leave the airport without being checked.
But on Dec 5, 2012, Shahryanty was stopped at Changi Airport Terminal 2 by customs officers for a routine check.
She was returning to Singapore after her flight duty then and had told the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers that she did not have any dutiable items to declare.
However, when they searched her luggage, the officers found 19 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes of assorted brands in her bags. The case was then referred to Singapore Customs.
After learning that the duty-unpaid cigarettes were meant for her friend Shidique, Singapore Customs officers raided his flat at Marsiling Drive and recovered 10 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes. A total of 29 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes worth more than $2,700 were seized. The duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded exceeded $2,200.
Mohamad Shidique, who had requested Shahryanty to smuggle in duty-unpaid cigarettes for him, was sentenced on June 18, 2013 to a fine of $40,000 or seven months' jail, in default.
Failure to make a declaration is an offence under the Customs Act and the GST Act. Offenders may be fined up to $10,000 or 20 times the amount of duty and GST - whichever is higher. Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, having in possession or dealing with duty-unpaid goods is also a punishable offence.
The Singapore Customs said travellers visiting Singapore and returning Singaporeans should familiarise themselves with the country's customs regulations at www.customs.gov.sg.
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