S'porean woman, 25, fined S$5,500 for evading S$819 GST on Paris-bought branded goods

No quick flipping.

Belmont Lay | July 21, 2018, 12:45 AM

Talk about not being able to game the system.

A Singaporean woman has been fined S$5,500 on Wednesday, July 18 for evading S$819 in Goods and Services Tax.

Happened in January 2018

The 25-year-old Singaporean woman was arrested at Changi Airport back in Jan. 12, 2018, in a case that sent some shock waves throughout Singapore as it showed how stringent efforts are to detect GST evasion -- which is more common than people would admit.

Singapore Customs has since said in a media release the woman, Joei Chen Si Hui, had bought the branded items in France and intended to sell them here.

Investigations revealed Chen had posted photos of some of them on her social media pages for sale.

Tried to clear customs

She landed at Changi Airport on a flight from Paris on Jan. 12.

She then attempted to pass through the Customs green channel, but was stopped for checks.

A total of 10 branded items, including wallets, a handbag and a belt, were found in her luggage.

"Despite knowing that GST would be payable on the goods, which were worth over S$11,710, Chen did not declare them for GST payment," said Singapore Customs, adding that she was subsequently arrested.

Authorities also said that the total amount of GST she had tried to evade was about S$819.

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Failure to keep documents and records

Chen pleaded guilty to one charge of fraudulent evasion of GST on goods brought into Singapore.

Another charge of failure to keep documents and records on goods she had imported previously was taken into consideration during the sentencing, authorities said.