SEREMBAN: Two company directors, including the son of Bersatu secretary general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, were charged at the Sessions Court here with nine counts of submitting false documents and possessing cooking oil, which is a controlled item, over the allowed limit.
Muhammad Faisal Hamzah, 39, and Azizul Abdul Halim, 55, pleaded not guilty before Judge Mazni Nawi after the charges were read by the court interpreter.
Faisal and Azizul, as directors of Rimba Merpati Sdn Bhd, which is a wholesale licence holder for a controlled item namely cooking oil, were accused of providing false information to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry when submitting a document regarding the cooking oil in storage as provided under Section 8 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
They were alleged to have committed the offence at about 5pm at the ministry's office in Seremban 2 on Aug 12, 2022. They were charged under Section 8(4) of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 which is punishable under Section 22(2) of the same Act.
They were also charged with violating Regulation 9 (1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974 for possessing a control item, namely cooking oil, over the 50 metric tonnes limit.
They were alleged to have committed the offence at 11.15pm at Rimba Merpati premises in Senawang on Aug 11, 2022.
They were charged with committing an offence that is punishable under Section 22(1) of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, read together with Section 22 (4) of the same Act and Section 34 of the Penal Code.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Sophian Zakaria did not offer bail but said that if the court were to grant bail, the amount should reflect the number of charges.
He added that the case involved cooking oil, making it a public interest case.
Counsel Qurratu 'Aini Zafirah Mat Shoib, who represented both accused, urged the court not to be swayed by the number of charges as they have not been found guilty.
She said the bail should not be excessive as it can lead to injustice and is against the principle of law.
"The accused have provided full cooperation to the investigating officers and this is the first time they have been charged in court.
"There is no risk of Faisal running away as he lives in Ampang with his pregnant wife and three children while Azizul is unemployed and has 10 children, including four who are still in school," she said.
The court set bail at RM40,000 each and fixed June 7 for case mention and submission of documents.