I wish to relate an unpleasant incident at the Customs checkpoint today at 11am(Saturday). I was on my way back to Singapore by public transport. While I was passing through the customs check, I was stopped just in front of the X ray conveyor belt by CPL Ronald just as I was turning back to grab one of the small containers to put my pack of cigarettes and handphone for scanning.
I was asked to open up the pack for checking although its very clear that the pack has already been opened from the appearance(I usually cover the pack with the back cover to preserve its freshness but its very clear even from shaking it that it wasnt a full pack) I was compliant and did as told. This is the upteen time CPL Ronald has demanded that I open the pack for his inspection. I have been met with sarcastic remarks on previous occasions by him so I did not want any trouble. I proceeded to open up the cover for his inspection.
As I was going back to grab the yellow container, he belligerently said he wanted to count the number of sticks as he was not satisfied with the visual inspection. I obliged and went back for him to do a count. His attitude was very rude. I counted to 15 the number of cigarettes for him but it wasn't enough for him. He demanded that I pour out the cigarettes into a dirty yellow container for futher counting. This is not bona fide and I wonder if its part of the standard protocol? I began to feel that he was overstepping his authority. I felt embarrassed and repeatedly told him not to make life difficult for me. I have never been stopped for counting by any officer from aetos. CPL Ronald(His superior is sergeant Azman) at this time looked confrontational. He told me the 15 cigarettes were subject to tax and he had a right to ask me to pour out the cigarettes. I was in a rush for time and I told him not to make things difficult. I told him I am a Singapore Citizen by birth and I was just entering back to my country. He continued to be difficult and repeated his demands for me to empty the whole pack into the yellow container. At this time, his superior Sergeant Azman came by and told me its standard protocol that they check everyone like that. I know this isn't true and its not the first time CPL Ronald has made things difficult for me. Both of them started to say the cigarettes are taxable and I agreed to pay whatever tax they wanted me to even though I knew for a fact customs does not levy tax for any pack of Malaysian cigarettes unless its a full pack.
If customs rules and regulations dictate checking every individual to this extent then its perfectly fine, but I observed I was the only person singled out for such detailed inspection.
Next they led me to the tax counter and delayed my time further,knowing full well the tax counter wasn't going to tax the 15 sticks. If the tax counter could ascertain the tax and print me a receipt, I am prepared to pay tax.. I didn't know they were bringing me to the tax counter and I thought they were bringing me to a room to detain me. They looked very pleased with themselves and beckoned me to follow them as if I have done something wrong. The tax counter told me there is no tax on the cigarettes even though theres supposed to be tax. He said administratively there is no way to ascertain the amount of tax on each and every pack as there wasn't time to count every pack or something to this effect. He also told me to be careful because customs can still fine me after I step out of the building. I am highly confused. Either there is tax on the item or there is no tax. But I was told there is no tax but by right there should be and I should exercise caution when outside. I have been told this before and I do know this law but never fully understood why. He told me he does not know what happened between me and CPL Ronald or why I was brought to the tax counter. He told me there is no tax and I am free to go.
I proceeded out where I saw sergeant Azman again. I asked him for the rank and name of Ronald. He demanded my passport and I was led to another room not knowing why he asked me to follow him nor if he has impounded my passport. He did not explain why he took my passport away till way later. Is it standard procedure to allow the aetos officer to take my passport without explaining why he took it and if its proper that I follow him to yet another room not knowing whats happening to me? I asked him if he is employed in the Singapore Police and he told me he represents the Singapore Government, but he isn't a civil servant.
I am very disturbed by the persistent attempts by CPL Ronald to make things difficult for me at the Customs. I am a law abiding citizen of the Republic of Singapore and I am proud of this country. I do not wish for my entry back to my country to be made so tedious. I hear from his slang that he isn't a Singapore Citizen. As to why he wants to make it so difficult for me, I do not know but I am deeply saddened by this incident. I do not know if sergeant Azman told me the correct name of Ronald but quite a few aetos officers witnessed the incident and i noticed a staff sergeant as well.
I would appreciate it if you could investigate the incident, and explain if my encounter fell within the boundaries of standard operating procedure and address my relevant concerns.
At my own country's border, I am being tekan by a FT... Is this acceptable?? That FT is only sec 2 std only... Acceptable??
I was asked to open up the pack for checking although its very clear that the pack has already been opened from the appearance(I usually cover the pack with the back cover to preserve its freshness but its very clear even from shaking it that it wasnt a full pack) I was compliant and did as told. This is the upteen time CPL Ronald has demanded that I open the pack for his inspection. I have been met with sarcastic remarks on previous occasions by him so I did not want any trouble. I proceeded to open up the cover for his inspection.
As I was going back to grab the yellow container, he belligerently said he wanted to count the number of sticks as he was not satisfied with the visual inspection. I obliged and went back for him to do a count. His attitude was very rude. I counted to 15 the number of cigarettes for him but it wasn't enough for him. He demanded that I pour out the cigarettes into a dirty yellow container for futher counting. This is not bona fide and I wonder if its part of the standard protocol? I began to feel that he was overstepping his authority. I felt embarrassed and repeatedly told him not to make life difficult for me. I have never been stopped for counting by any officer from aetos. CPL Ronald(His superior is sergeant Azman) at this time looked confrontational. He told me the 15 cigarettes were subject to tax and he had a right to ask me to pour out the cigarettes. I was in a rush for time and I told him not to make things difficult. I told him I am a Singapore Citizen by birth and I was just entering back to my country. He continued to be difficult and repeated his demands for me to empty the whole pack into the yellow container. At this time, his superior Sergeant Azman came by and told me its standard protocol that they check everyone like that. I know this isn't true and its not the first time CPL Ronald has made things difficult for me. Both of them started to say the cigarettes are taxable and I agreed to pay whatever tax they wanted me to even though I knew for a fact customs does not levy tax for any pack of Malaysian cigarettes unless its a full pack.
If customs rules and regulations dictate checking every individual to this extent then its perfectly fine, but I observed I was the only person singled out for such detailed inspection.
Next they led me to the tax counter and delayed my time further,knowing full well the tax counter wasn't going to tax the 15 sticks. If the tax counter could ascertain the tax and print me a receipt, I am prepared to pay tax.. I didn't know they were bringing me to the tax counter and I thought they were bringing me to a room to detain me. They looked very pleased with themselves and beckoned me to follow them as if I have done something wrong. The tax counter told me there is no tax on the cigarettes even though theres supposed to be tax. He said administratively there is no way to ascertain the amount of tax on each and every pack as there wasn't time to count every pack or something to this effect. He also told me to be careful because customs can still fine me after I step out of the building. I am highly confused. Either there is tax on the item or there is no tax. But I was told there is no tax but by right there should be and I should exercise caution when outside. I have been told this before and I do know this law but never fully understood why. He told me he does not know what happened between me and CPL Ronald or why I was brought to the tax counter. He told me there is no tax and I am free to go.
I proceeded out where I saw sergeant Azman again. I asked him for the rank and name of Ronald. He demanded my passport and I was led to another room not knowing why he asked me to follow him nor if he has impounded my passport. He did not explain why he took my passport away till way later. Is it standard procedure to allow the aetos officer to take my passport without explaining why he took it and if its proper that I follow him to yet another room not knowing whats happening to me? I asked him if he is employed in the Singapore Police and he told me he represents the Singapore Government, but he isn't a civil servant.
I am very disturbed by the persistent attempts by CPL Ronald to make things difficult for me at the Customs. I am a law abiding citizen of the Republic of Singapore and I am proud of this country. I do not wish for my entry back to my country to be made so tedious. I hear from his slang that he isn't a Singapore Citizen. As to why he wants to make it so difficult for me, I do not know but I am deeply saddened by this incident. I do not know if sergeant Azman told me the correct name of Ronald but quite a few aetos officers witnessed the incident and i noticed a staff sergeant as well.
I would appreciate it if you could investigate the incident, and explain if my encounter fell within the boundaries of standard operating procedure and address my relevant concerns.
At my own country's border, I am being tekan by a FT... Is this acceptable?? That FT is only sec 2 std only... Acceptable??
