Cosmetics millionaire Hasmiza Othman was imposed a fine of RM80,000 by the Ipoh Sessions Court today after changing her plea to guilty, to 16 counts of failing to submit her Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns.

The Vida Beauty Sdn Bhd founder and owner who also goes by the name 'Datuk Seri Vida', 45, paid the fine.

She committed the offences at the Royal Malaysian Customs, GST Division, Wisma Kastam, No 1 Jalan Tun Razak in Ipoh from April 2015 till July 2016.

The charges are framed under Section 41(6) of the GST Act 2014, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or three years jail or both, on conviction.

Initially on Oct 30, she claimed trial to the 16 charges, and to another 16 counts of failing to pay GST amounting to RM4.2 million.

Prior to her sentencing, deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran, who was representing the prosecution with DPP Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan, submitted that "the offence committed by the accused was serious".

"The Customs Department was not able to collect what it should in GST, which affected the country's earnings," submitted Raja Rozela.

Counsel Syed Ahmad Syed Abas in mitigation said, "The accused should be made to pay only RM4,000 as fine for each charge as she is facing another 16 charges and a commitment to settle the GST amounting to RM4.2 million."

The lawyer further submitted that Vida's guilty plea had saved the court time and costs, and that she had fully cooperated with the relevant parties in the case.

"Throughout the 'Gegar Vaganza' programme she looked happy but actually she was under pressure over what happened. It had also affected her business and as a result, her GST payment in future may be less," he said.

However, judge Murtazadi Amran concurred with the prosecution on the seriousness of the offence and that an appropriate sentence should be imposed as a lesson to society.

Meanwhile, the court set Dec 30 for remention of Vida's case involving the 16 other charges of failing to pay GST amounting to RM4.2 million.

The charges are framed under Section 41(7) of the GST Act 2014, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or three years imprisonment, or both, on conviction.

- Bernama