They were caught at the Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKMS) building on Sept 10 last year, loading and unloading contraband cigarettes from several vehicles. A total of 2,421 cartons of duty unpaid cigarettes were later found in the building and seized. As it turned out, three shipments of such cigarettes arrived in Singapore in July, August and September last year.
Money would be collected and handed to a person known as "Indra" in Batam, Indonesia, as payment for these cigarettes. Yesterday, a runner in the scheme, Indonesian Atlis Suryanto, was jailed six months on one charge of dealing with the contraband goods for which the excise duty was not paid, and for taking a ferry to Batam to pass $30,000 to Indra.
Two more similar charges in the $80,000 scheme were taken into consideration. The court heard that Atlis, 41, would arrive in Singapore before the shipment date to collect advance payment and contraband cigarette orders from a person known as "Ali" at the PKMS building. Atlis would then take the money out of Singapore and transfer it to Indra.
Return to S'pore
He would again return to Singapore on the date of the shipment to assist in loading, unloading and transporting the contraband cigarettes. For each shipment, he received a $150 commission from Ali and 5 million rupiah (S$670) from Indra. Four others - all Singaporean - involved in the scheme have been dealt with, receiving jail terms from six to 30 months. In a mitigation letter to the judge, Atlis, who was unrepresented, said he was a sole breadwinner with three children and was sorry for his actions.
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