Chinese tourists charge for possessing uncustomed phones

FOUR Chinese nationals were brought before the Magistrate's Court yesterday to face two charges of being in possession of uncustomed mobile phones and radio communication apparatus.

In total, the defendants had a total of 32 mobile phones in their possession, with an estimated value of $20,000. The phones, which are made in China, are suspected to be reproductions of the Nokia N Series mobile phones.

Li Shiying, Liu he Jin, Qiu Tianhe, Qiu Huo face charges under Section 34(1)(b) of the Telecommunications Order 2001 and Section 140(1)(d) of the Customs Order 2006.

All four pleaded "not guilty", claiming that they did not know they had to declare the mobiles and that customs officials at Brunei International Airport did not check their bags or ask them if they had anything to declare.

The four Chinese nationals arrived in Brunei on December 30, 2009, and were arrested the following day for attempting to sell the phones at a shopping complex in Berakas.

They posted bail of $500 each and were released from police custody on January 1, with the condition to report to immigration on January 6, 2010.

According to the immigration officers and the defendants' own testimony, between January 1 to 6, the four defendants were allegedly homeless and living on the streets in and around the capital.

They were rearrested by the police and remanded at Jerudong Prison.

The four Chinese nationals were granted a special visitor's pass by the Immigration Department on January 6 and were ordered to appear in court on January 9.

If convicted, they face a maximum fine of $10,000 and a prison term not exceeding three years.

All defendants, with the exception of the sole female Li Shiying, 52, were remanded at Jerudong Prison. Li Shiying was ordered to the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (Ripas) Hospital by Chief Magistrate Hj Abdullah Soefri POKSM DSP Hj Abidin, after she had bouts of vomiting during court proceedings.

The case will be brought before the court again on January 23 for further mention when a trial date will be set for all four defendants. The Brunei Times