A company operating a char kuay teow restaurant in the federal capital was today fined RM9,000 by the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur for not collecting the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from its customers last year.

Judge Shamsudin Abdullah also ordered Mali’s Corner Sdn Bhd to pay 95 sen in GST to the Customs Department for not collecting the tax in one receipt. The company paid the fines.

The court passed the sentence after the company, which was represented by its director, Jamali Saat, pleaded guilty to the charge.

The company, which was registered for GST, was charged under the Goods and Services Tax Act 2014 for not issuing the tax invoice when making the tax provision.

The offence was committed on Oct 7, 2015 at 12.54pm, at Mali’s Corner Sdn Bhd, No 9-1, Block C, Jalan Langkawi, Platinum Walk in Danau Kota, Setapak in Kuala Lumpur.

The charge under Section 33(2)(a) of the same act, provides for a fine not exceeding RM30,000 or a jail term of up to two years, or both.

Earlier, counsel Zambri Mohd Isa, representing the company, pleaded for a light sentence as it was the company's first offence, while Customs prosecuting officer Norhalelly Haimid asked for an appropriate sentence as a deterrence to others.

- Bernama