SEPANG: Two Chinese nationals were each sentenced to six months in prison by the Magistrate’s Court here today for possessing contraband cigarettes at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Magistrate Suriani Ujang handed down the sentences to Zhang Yaojun, 48, and Zou Xinyi, 40, after they pleaded guilty to the charges. She ordered the sentences to run from the date of their arrest on June 26.
The court also ordered each of them to pay RM9,200 in import duties, failing which they would face an additional month in jail.
According to the charges, Zhang was found in possession of 149 cartons of cigarettes, equivalent to 29,800 sticks, worth RM4,470, with assessed import duties amounting to RM20,770.60.
Zou was charged with possessing 311 cartons of cigarettes, equivalent to 62,200 sticks, worth RM9,330, with assessed import duties amounting to RM43,353.40.
Both were charged with committing the offences at the Passenger Examination Branch Office, KLIA Terminal 1 Customs Office, at 6 pm on June 26 under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, punishable under Section 135(1)(v)(aa) of the same Act.
Upon conviction, they were liable to a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000, whichever was higher, and not more than 20 times the value or RM500,000, whichever was higher, or imprisonment for between six months and five years, or both.
The prosecution was conducted by Royal Malaysian Customs Department prosecuting officer at KLIA, Shahrul Amin Shahrul Nizam, while lawyer Soon Sen Yang represented both accused.
Soon appealed to the court to impose lenient sentences on both accused, citing their family responsibilities and financial burdens.
“Zou is a divorced single mother who is solely responsible for supporting her 10-year-old son, while Zhang has two schoolgoing children and his wife was involved in an accident several months ago,” he said.