Trio on trial for trading in fake liquor smuggled in car fuel tanks
Published on Dec 6, 2011
Ong Bee Hong, Ong Bee Hock (above) and Ong Bee Zhuan Micheal, are now on trial in a district court for trading in counterfeit liquor. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
By Khushwant Singh
Fake liquor sold as premium brands was smuggled from Malaysia in cars' that had specially modified fuel tanks. Some of the liquor was contaminated by petrol and could not be used.
The rest would go into bottles of Chivas Regal and Johnnie Walker Black Label whiskies as well as Martell and Hennessy brandies.
These were sold to liquor distributors for $20 to $30 each. Authentic brands such as Johnnie Walker Black Label retail from $60.20 a bottle.
The syndicate was busted in 2010 and three men are now on trial in a district court for trading in counterfeit liquor.
They are brothers Ong Bee Hong, 33, and Ong Bee Hock, 37, as well as cousin Michael Ong Bee Zhuan, 34.
When they were arrested in December 2010, more than 40,000 empty bottles were found at their company's premises off Hillview Avenue.
Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.
