A health massage operator has been sentenced to two weeks' jail
and ordered to pay a penalty of about $19,000 for evading
taxes.
Neo Tian Teo, sole proprietor of Everrise Traditional Healthway
Services, was charged in court for under-declaring his income by
more than $125,000 over a period of 8 years from 1997.
The 43-year-old pleaded guilty to 2 charges, while 4 others were
taken into consideration.
For his first offence committed in February 1997, Neo avoided
paying some $2,700 worth of taxes.
On the second charge in March 1999, Neo avoided paying taxes
amounting to more than $3,500.
In his mitigation, Neo's lawyer told the court the accused
didn't go out to hide the facts that the accounts were
understated.
His lawyer added that Neo, who's separated from his wife, has to
take care of their 9-year-old son.
But the district court judge didn't buy the argument.
The judge has set Neo's bail at $8,100 and he's expected to
start his jail term on the 12th of June.
--938Live