SG Woman Living In Malaysia Fined RM36,137 For Bringing Undeclared Jewellery Into Singapore

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A 32-year-old Singaporean woman living in Malaysia has been fined SGD11,400 (RM36,137) after she tried to bring jewellery into Singapore without declaring it or paying the required Goods and Services Tax (GST)

Nabilah Binte Jaafar Al-Kathiri pleaded guilty to one charge of fraudulent evasion of GST at the State Courts of Singapore on 5 August.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of 19 pieces of jewellery and other items used in the offence, including bags and boxes, according to a statement by Singapore Customs released yesterday, 17 August.

The jewellery was worth about SGD10,512 (RM33,339), while the amount of GST evaded was about SGD946 (RM3,000).

The incident happened on 5 April when Nabilah entered Singapore as a passenger in a Malaysian-registered vehicle through Woodlands Checkpoint

She told Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers that she had nothing to declare, despite knowing GST was payable on the jewellery she was carrying.

During a check of the vehicle, ICA officers found 23 pieces of jewellery packed into 22 parcels inside a polymer bag in the boot.

The haul consisted of 21 pieces of gold jewellery and two pieces made from titanium.

Singapore Customs subsequently took over the case and seized all 23 pieces.

Most of the jewellery was meant for customers in Singapore

Investigations found that Nabilah was living in Malaysia at the time and ran an online business selling gold and titanium jewellery to customers in Singapore.

She advertised the jewellery on platforms including Facebook and Telegram and sourced the items from various shops in Malaysia before bringing them into Singapore for delivery.

Of the 23 pieces seized, 19 were intended to be sold to customers for profit, while the remaining four were intended as personal gifts.

Singapore Customs has since warned travellers to declare taxable goods

It said travellers are responsible for making accurate and complete declarations of dutiable and taxable items they bring into the country and paying the applicable duty and GST.

Travellers can make their declarations and payments through the Customs@SG web application or at checkpoints.

Under Singapore's Customs Act 1960 and GST Act 1993, anyone convicted of fraudulently evading duty or GST can be fined up to 20 times the amount evaded and may also face up to 12 months' imprisonment.

Singapore Customs said it considers duty and GST evasion at checkpoints a serious offence.