Man fined $1 million for wholesaling 'ang hoon' without licence
Photo: The Straits Times
Tuesday, Dec 15, 2015
SINGAPORE - A wholesaler has been fined $1.01 million and sentenced to eight months in jail for selling 'ang hoon' or shag tobacco without a valid tobacco import and wholesale licence, and for evading taxes normally required for possessing the tobacco.
This is not the first time that Ng Teck Beng, 46, sole proprietor of Wei Teck Distribution, has committed such an offence.
Ng's most recent offences were uncovered when officers from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and Singapore Customs received a tip-off, and raided two units at Golden Mile Complex on April 2.
Authorities found a total of 11,375 pouches, 51 slabs and three bags of duty-unpaid 'ang hoon' weighing 106.26kg.
The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded exceeded $35,110.
Although he was issued a tobacco import and wholesale licence in 2005, it was suspended after he was caught for the possession of duty-unpaid tobacco in 2013. The licence subsequently expired.
Despite this, Ng continued to supply more than 65,000 pieces of 'ang hoon' to other business entities between December 2013 and March 2014.
He pleaded guilty to 20 charges of wholesaling 'ang hoon' without a valid tobacco import and wholesale licence. For this, he was fined $63,900, or in default 51 weeks' imprisonment. The judge also took into consideration 41 other charges during the sentencing.
Ng also pleaded guilty to two charges of storing duty-unpaid 'ang hoon'. He was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment and $955,000 in fines, or in default 10 months' imprisonment for these charges.
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