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ICA 2 VCD Smugglers 0
Following the successful haul of 7,000 pieces of uncensored and obscene discs on 8 Oct 2003, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at Tuas Checkpoint scored another hit against VCD smuggling when they intercepted yet another vehicle trying to smuggle more uncensored and obscene discs into Singapore. Perhaps would-be offenders would now associate the acronym "VCD" with Vigilant Checkpoint Dynamos, a tribute to our experienced and well-trained officers at the checkpoints.
2 On 13 Oct 2003 at about 2035 hours, ICA officers signalled a Malaysia registered car to stop for checks during an operation. The driver and his passenger were both smartly dressed. Our alert officers suspected that the car boot and fuel tank of the vehicle could have been tampered with and that there might be a secret compartment under the boot. The rear bumper of the car was removed and when a fiberscope (a miniature camera-like equipment) was inserted into a narrow opening pried along the modified fuel tank, paper cartons could be seen concealed in a secret compartment.
3 As the driver and his passenger, both 36-year old male Malaysians were uncooperative and refused to reveal how the compartment could be accessed, ICA officers had to use crowbars to force open the boot of the car to access the secret compartment. The secret compartment stretched from beneath the car boot right up to the rear passenger seat and in it were plastic packages and paper cartons containing 5,677 pieces of assorted discs - 1,099 VCDs and 19 DVDs suspected to be obscene, 4,250 VCDs and 91 DVDs that were believed to be uncensored and 218 music CDs. The driver and his passenger were immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
4 Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was paid RM$200/- to drive the car into Singapore and his passenger was paid RM$100/- to accompany him. The value of the 5,677 pieces of assorted discs is estimated to have a street value of about S$31,000/- and the GST involved amounted to $1,240/-. The case has been referred to Singapore Police Force for further investigation.
5 Under Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of distributing uncensored films are liable to a fine not less than $500/- for each film (or up to a maximum fine of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 6 months.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
14 Oct 2003
2 On 13 Oct 2003 at about 2035 hours, ICA officers signalled a Malaysia registered car to stop for checks during an operation. The driver and his passenger were both smartly dressed. Our alert officers suspected that the car boot and fuel tank of the vehicle could have been tampered with and that there might be a secret compartment under the boot. The rear bumper of the car was removed and when a fiberscope (a miniature camera-like equipment) was inserted into a narrow opening pried along the modified fuel tank, paper cartons could be seen concealed in a secret compartment.
3 As the driver and his passenger, both 36-year old male Malaysians were uncooperative and refused to reveal how the compartment could be accessed, ICA officers had to use crowbars to force open the boot of the car to access the secret compartment. The secret compartment stretched from beneath the car boot right up to the rear passenger seat and in it were plastic packages and paper cartons containing 5,677 pieces of assorted discs - 1,099 VCDs and 19 DVDs suspected to be obscene, 4,250 VCDs and 91 DVDs that were believed to be uncensored and 218 music CDs. The driver and his passenger were immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
4 Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was paid RM$200/- to drive the car into Singapore and his passenger was paid RM$100/- to accompany him. The value of the 5,677 pieces of assorted discs is estimated to have a street value of about S$31,000/- and the GST involved amounted to $1,240/-. The case has been referred to Singapore Police Force for further investigation.
5 Under Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of distributing uncensored films are liable to a fine not less than $500/- for each film (or up to a maximum fine of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 6 months.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
14 Oct 2003