Businessman Jailed Nine Months For Spate Of Crimes

SINGAPORE, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- A businessman was on Monday sentenced to nine months jail and fined $8,000 (S$1 = RM2.99) for a spate of crimes which included importing nearly 40kg of 'Ramly' beef patties without a licence, the Straits Times online reported. It said Mohamed Dawood R. M. Abdul Sukkur, 48, pleaded guilty at a District Court to four charges: obstructing a customs officer, perverting the course of justice, importing a meat product without a licence and dangerous driving. The news portal said four other charges were taken into consideration in sentencing: one count of failing to make a declaration on dutiable goods, one charge of importing processed food without registration, and two counts of having cigarettes that had not passed through customs. It added that in June last year, the father of 10 had sped off from an inspection pit at the Singapore's Tuas Checkpoint, for fear of being caught. The court heard that on June 23, 2015, Dawood drove to Malaysia about 7am in a rented black BMW car to collect traditional cakes and pastries to supply to shops in Singapore. He also went to a supermarket in Malaysia's southern state Johor, to buy 105 packets of 'Ramly' beef patties weighing about 37.8kg for US$99 (RM400). The report said he wanted to sell them to night market shops in Woodlands for a profit. Dawood hid the beef patties in the spare tyre compartment of the car and reached Tuas Checkpoint at 11.35am, it added. --BERNAMA