By Rol Ezam

However, the man will now serve 8 months' imprisonment after he failed to pay the fine, which the court had ordered him to settle yesterday.

Lewi Aran, 40, admitted to importing and bringing in seven sets of Astro Digital Multi Media Terminal DV3 with accessories comprising a smart card 2, remote control and discs, five units of Moteck V-Box 11, two pieces of Astro Discs, one unit of Max Plus + HTS 9300 DV3, five units of Humax VA - 3210 DV3 MPEG 2 digital and 20 pieces of Panorama.

Under the Brunei Law, importing broadcasting equipment without licence carries an imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, fine not exceeding $40,000 or both, while bringing in uncustomed goods carries a fine of not less than six times the amount of the duty or $40,000, whichever is lesser, and not more than 20 times the amount of duty or $40,000 whichever is greater for the first offence. Second and subsequent offences carry a two-year imprisonment.

The court yesterday heard that Customs Enforcement officers stopped a Ford Ranger, bearing registration number QCB 4744 and driven by the defendant, for normal inspection five days ago at the Sungai Tujoh Control Post.

Empty boxes labelled ASTRO found in the boot of the car raised the officers suspicion, which led to further checks, said Deputy Public Prosecutor, Hjh Anifa Rafiza binti Hj Abd Ghani.

She said all the items were found concealed inside two bags found at the rear passenger seat of the car, under the front and rear passenger seats, inside the front engine bonnet, and under the foot mat of the driver's seat.

The defendant admitted that he was transporting the said items to three persons in Bandar Seri Begawan who had bought the ASTRO set from his boss for $245.