By Chua Hian Hou

FOUR Malaysians selling pirated movies to Singapore buyers have been nabbed in the first joint operation between law enforcement agencies from both sides of the Causeway against pirated movie syndicates.

Last Thursday, a Malaysian man delivering pirated movies to Singaporeans was caught in an ambush by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department's intellectual property rights branch (IPRB) near Bukit Merah.

The 37-year-old Chinese man was charged in the Subordinate Courts last Saturday for bringing in pirated materials, said a police spokesman. He is being remanded.

The Straits Times understands that the suspect was driving a Malaysian-registered car with 300 pirated movie discs. He is also believed to have given police some information on the buyers, but the authorities usually go after those selling pirated materials.

In separate raids, officers from Malaysia's Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, the IPRB's Malaysian counterparts, hit four retail outlets in the notorious pirate haunt of Holiday Plaza, a mall popular with Singaporeans.

They arrested three individuals and seized 4,000 pirated discs. One of the retail outlets had been running a website offering Singaporean buyers pirated movies; the site has since been taken down.

Malaysian pirate syndicates have been offering delivery services to Singapore shoppers for some years now, to avoid customs checks at the Causeway.

It is illegal under the Films Act to bring in uncensored movies. Those convicted face penalties of up to $500 in fines and six months jail. Those in possession of large quantities of pirated materials can be hauled up under the Copyright Act.

In recent years, syndicates have launched websites to allow buyers to order online. A minimum order of about 20 discs is usually required for delivery. Buyers must pay by cash. Some syndicates pre-arrange the drop-off time and location through e-mail, while others ask for the buyer's mobile number.

Mr Mike Ellis, president (Asia Pacific) of movie industry watchdog Motion Picture Association said the operation 'demonstrates both the Singapore and Malaysian governments' commitment in taking aggressive actions in clamping down on pirate syndicates.'