A director of an import and export company pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday to a charge of fraudulently evading RM150,319.50 in customs duties six years ago.
Sabariah Ibrahim, 58, entered her plea after the charge was read before Magistrate Nurzihan Abdul Rehman.
According to the charge sheet, Sabariah allegedly knowingly participated in the fraudulent evasion of customs duties amounting to RM150,319.50 at the Import Branch, Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) at 3.41pm on 2 January 2020.
She was charged under Section 135(1)(g) of the Customs Act 1967, read together with Section 140 of the same Act, and is punishable under Section 135(1)(i)(aa).
If convicted, she faces a fine of between 10 and 20 times the amount of customs duty evaded, ranging from RM1.5 million to RM3 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
The court granted Sabariah RM8,000 bail with one surety and fixed 1 September for case mention and document submission.
In a separate proceeding before the same court, Toon Sdn Bhd Import and Export Services was also charged with fraudulently evading customs duties involving the same amount.
Sabariah, who appeared as the company’s representative, also pleaded not guilty on behalf of the company after the charge was read.
The company was charged under Section 135(1)(g) of the Customs Act 1967 and is liable to the penalties provided under Section 135(1)(i)(aa) if found guilty.
The court fixed 6 August for mention of the company’s case and the submission of documents. No bail was imposed on the company.
The prosecution was conducted by Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) prosecuting officers Amiera Wahyunie Zainordin and Atheerah Azizan, while Sabariah and the company were represented by lawyer Abd Rahim Ali.
