ALOR STAR: The Sessions Court here today sentenced a Thai national to eight months in jail for illegal possession of 280 litres of subsidised petrol worth RM630 in Bukit Kayu Hitam four months ago.
Judge Mazdi Abdul Majid meted out the sentence on Suwit Sake, who is from Sadao, southern Thailand, after he pleaded guilty to the charge read to him by a court interpreter.
According to the charge sheet, the accused committed the offence about 3.50pm on July 3 near Masjid Bukit Kayu Hitam.
The petrol was stored in a modified tank underneath a Thailand-registered Toyota Hilux.
The accused was detained by the General Operations Force's intelligence branch team when he was seen driving in a suspicious manner.
The offence is punishable under Section 21(1) of the Supply Control Act 1961.
For the first offence, Section 22(1) provides for a fine of up to RM1 million or up to three years' jail or both.
For subsequent offences, the penalty increases to a fine not exceeding RM3 million or up to five years' jail or both.
The court ordered for the proceeds from the sale of the seized fuel and the vehicle to be awarded to the Malaysian government.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry prosecution officer Mohd Hilmi Abu Hassan prosecuted. Counsel R. Thevan represented the accused.
In the same court, another Thai national was fined RM9,000 for illegal possession of subsidised diesel and petrol in October last year.
Mazdi handed down the sentence on Sakariya Kangla, who is from Ban Na, Songkhla, after he pleaded guilty.
According to the charge sheet, the accused committed the offence about 12.15pm in Kuala Nerang, Padang Terap, on Oct 19, 2023.
He was caught with 96 litres of diesel stored in a modified tank in a Toyota Camry and 11 litres of petrol stored in a container.
The charge was framed under Section 21(1) of the Supply Control Act 1961.
The court ordered for the proceeds from the sale of the seized fuel and the vehicle to be awarded to the Malaysian government.
The accused paid the fine.