Café caretaker gets two months for uncustomed fags, beer

KUCHING: An Indonesian café caretaker was sentenced to two months’ jail by the Magistrates’ Court here today for possessing duty-unpaid cigarettes and beer.

Jainal, 39, from Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia, pleaded guilty to the charge before magistrate Nuriena Syafika Mohd Najib.

The charge was framed under Section 37(1) of the Sarawak Minor Offences Ordinance 1958, which carries a maximum jail term of three months or a fine of up to RM500 upon conviction.

He was found in possession of 68 cartons of cigarettes and 13 boxes of beer of various brands at a café in Batu Kawa at about 2.30pm on October 2.

According to the facts of the case, police raided the café during Ops Taring Alpha 1 and 2 following suspicions that the premises were being used to store duty-unpaid goods.

An inspection revealed various brands of beer and cigarettes suspected to be untaxed.

Jainal, who was present during the inspection, failed to produce valid tax clearance documents from the Customs Department when requested by police.

He was subsequently arrested, while the suspected duty-unpaid goods were seized for further investigation.

Investigations found that Jainal had failed to provide a reasonable explanation for possessing the items.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Aidil Akmal Sharidan prosecuted, while Jainal was unrepresented.