Heavy fine for attempting to defraud Customs and attempting to bribe officer

ST. KITTS, APRIL 25, 2010 (CUOPM) – Fines and additional duties totalling nearly EC$200,000 have been levied on a local Chinese businessman for attempted fraudulent evasion of Customs duties, attempted bribery of a Customs officer and making an untrue declaration to Customs.

Comptroller of Customs, Mr. Rodney Harris said businessman Mr. Alex Lee of Kim Sha Ltd settled offences on April 19th brought against him under the Customs (Control and Management) Act No. 4 of 1992 for the following offences brought against him.

Mr. Harris disclosed that for attempted fraudulent evasion of Customs Duties chargeable on the goods, Contrary to Sect. 116 (2), Lee was fined EC$134,716.27 EC (three (3) times the value of the Goods).

Mr. Lee was also fined EC$10,000 for attempted bribery of a Customs officer while in the performance of duty in relation to an assigned matter, contrary to Section 105 (2) (a) of the Customs Act.

He was also fined a further EC$10,000 for making an Untrue Declaration to Customs, contrary to Section 113 (2) (a) of the Customs Act.

Additional duties and taxes in the amount of EC$23,087. 98 was also imposed on the goods he attempted to evade.

“The total fines amounted to EC$154,716. 27. Fines and additional duties amounted to a total of EC$177,804.25,” said the Comptroller of Customs.