Singaporean Man Fined, Given Prison Time for False Submissions to Customs

A Singaporean man was fined $6,000 (in Singapore dollars) and sentenced to 30 days in prison for submitting false documents to Singapore Customs, the agency said Jan. 14. Ekbal Din, who owns the freight forwarding business Turino Export Import, pleaded guilty to submitting false documents involving exports of cigarettes. Singapore said Turino exported two shipments to the United Kingdom that contained nearly 2,000 cartons of cigarettes, but the bills of lading described the contents as “milo powder.” Singapore said Ekbal submitted the false bills of lading “under the instructions of an unknown man” involved in smuggling cigarettes.