Singapore Man Fined for Selling Imitation Tobacco Products

According to a report by Mothership on December 8, a man in Singapore has been fined $8500 for filing a complaint about theft in his warehouse. He claimed that the stolen items were information technology (IT) equipment, but the investigation revealed that the warehouse actually stored e-cigarettes and accessories.

A Singaporean man named Lim Zhi Wei, aged 38, has confessed to four charges related to selling or advertising imitation tobacco products under the Tobacco Advertising and Sales Control Act.

In addition, six other charges were also taken into consideration in the verdict. If Lin is unable to pay the fine, he will be required to serve a 17-day sentence.

The court heard Lin's report on the theft of a warehouse, which stated that the stolen items were IT equipment. However, during the investigation, the police discovered that the stolen goods were actually e-cigarette devices and related components, rather than IT equipment.

Afterward, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) was notified and proceeded to arrest Lin on May 13, 2022. The authorities seized a total of 60,050 pods, 172 boxes of e-cigarettes with pods, 1,601 sets of e-cigarette kits without pods, 296 individual e-cigarettes without pods, 22 disposable e-cigarettes, and 27 bags containing various e-cigarettes and pods.

During the investigation of the Lin family, the Health and Safety Agency (HSA) also discovered a larger quantity of e-cigarettes and their components. Additionally, prohibited items were found within his rental vehicle.

Lin has admitted to packaging, selling, and delivering e-cigarettes and their accessories in Singapore. He promoted these banned items through chat conversations, claiming to be conducting these activities on behalf of a Malaysian named Jason. Lin further alleged that another person he knows, William, was also involved in these operations.

Lin said he received a payment of 10 Singapore dollars for each package he delivered, and 1 Singapore dollar for each package he packed. He stated that over the course of two months working in packaging and delivery of e-cigarettes and related components, he received a total payment of approximately 2000 to 3000 Singapore dollars.

According to a recent investigation, in April 2022, Lin conducted a sale on WhatsApp, offering 50 boxes of various flavored pods to an individual at a price of SGD 9 per box.

Previously, in February 2022, he promoted a "root beer flavor" pod to another potential buyer on WhatsApp, and provided a photo for consideration. In addition, Lin sold 13 boxes containing 39 grape-flavored pods to an individual on WhatsApp, for a total of $300. This transaction involved Lin collecting the payment through DBS PayLah! and delivering the pods to the buyer's maid at a vacant lot in Bukit Panjang.

For the sale or provision of counterfeit tobacco products, first-time offenders can face a maximum sentence of six months in prison, a fine of up to ten thousand Singapore dollars, or both. Repeat offenders may face a maximum imprisonment and fine that are twice the previous penalties.