SIBU: A businessman has been sentenced to 10 months’ in jail by the Magistrate's Court on Tuesday (March 22) after he pleaded guilty to possession of prohibited goods.

       Magistrate Syukri Mohktar also ordered the accused, Lee Hock Kiong, 42, to pay Customs duty of RM12,868 within one month.

       Lee was charged under Section 135 (1) of the Customs Act 1967 for the offence which provides for a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the goods, or RM100,000 whichever is the greater amount.

       The offence also carries a jail term of not less than six months and not more than five years or both.

       According to the case brief, at about 9.30am on May 9, 2019, a group of Customs officers from the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Sibu raided a shop at Bank Road where an employee was present.

       Upon inspection, the team found 128 cartons of assorted brands of cigarettes and beers. The goods were seized and brought to the Customs office at Jalan Deshon.

       At about 11.30am the accused, who is the owner of the shop, came to the office.

       Investigation on the goods revealed that the accused had failed to prove that custom duties had been paid on them. All the goods were also found without any tax stamp on them.