Businessman fined $15,000 for importing toy guns without permit
By Elena Chong, Court Correspondent
BUSINESSMAN Wong Ser Kuen bought the 20 toy guns and pellets for $100 in China but ended up on Tuesday paying $15,000 in fine - for bringing them in without a permit.
A district court heard that the toy guns were found in one of the boxes when Wong's luggage was being screened by the X-ray machine at the arrival hall of Changi Airport budget terminal on Feb 14. He has just returned from Guangzhou, China.
When asked if he had anything to declare, Wong, 58, who owns International Trading and Marketing which imports various merchandise into Singapore, replied that there were 'toys' in the box.
Twenty black toy guns were found packed beneath some other plastic windmill toys in the box.
Investigation showed that on Dec 30, Wong had asked the police whether toy guns were permitted under Singapore law. He was advised to contact the Police Licensing Division but could not get a response.
When Wong pleaded guilty last month, Deputy Public Prosecutor Christopher Ong pressed for a deterrent sentence to send a clear message that a stern view would be taken against those who bring guns whether toys or otherwise - into Singapore, given the present security climate.
He said toy pistols are listed as controlled imports, like bullet-proof vests, steel helmets, handcuffs, as they are considered a potential threat to public order.
'It is important to emphasise that the threat posed by imitation arms is neither trivial nor imaginary,' said DPP Ong.
Even if toy pistols were imported with apparently innocent and purely commercial intentions, the discovery of such imports without permits would trigger investigations.
He described Wong's act as 'blatantly irresponsible' as he had completely ignored the inconvenience and alarm that he would cause.
Wong's lawyer, Mr Edmond Pereira said his client did not bring the toy guns in with any sinister reasons. Neither did he know it was an offence to do so.
He said the cost of the 20 pieces and pellets was less than $100.
District Judge Aedit Abdullah said there was a need to deter other people because guns could be misused. He also said such items could cause undue alarm when detected.
Wong could have been fined up to $100,000 or jailed for up to two years or both.
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