ALOR STAR: A Thai national was charged in the Sessions Court here today with unlawful possession of 280 litres of subsidised petrol without a valid licence.
The accused, lorry driver Suwit Sake, 34, claimed trial when the charge was read to him by an interpreter before judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason.
According to the charge, the accused had in his possession scheduled controlled goods, namely 280 litres of petrol, found in an additional tank under a Thailand-registered vehicle, registration number TQ 9690 SKA.
The act raised reasonable suspicion of the accused having contravened Regulation 3 (1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974.
This pertains to dealing in controlled goods in bulk without a licence.
The accused committed the offence at a roadside near Jalan Laka Temin, Bukit Kayu Hitam on July 3 at 3.50am.
The charge was framed under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
It is punishable under Section 22 (1) of the same act, which carries a fine not exceeding RM1 million or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years, or both.
For subsequent offences, the penalty is a fine not exceeding RM2 million or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both.
The judge granted RM10,000 bail for the accused and fixed Aug 19 for mention.
She also ordered the accused to report to the nearest police station monthly until the case was settled. The accused posted bail.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry deputy prosecuting officer Mohd Hilmi Abu Hassan prosecuted, while the accused was unrepresented.
Yesterday, it was reported that enforcement officers from the ministry had seized 6,130 litres of fuel, suspected to be smuggled diesel and petrol worth RM230,358.90 from a licensed fuel wholesaler in the Bukit Kayu Hitam Industrial Area on Sunday.
The ministry's state office director Muhammad Nizam Jamaludin said that a local man, suspected to be an employee at the premises, along with two Thai nationals, were detained for further investigation.