SIBU: A 25-year-old man was fined RM12,000 on Friday (June 23), with a default sentence of three months’ imprisonment, for being in possession of 400 litres of diesel fuel intended for sale without the necessary licence.
Winston Toh Wei Sheng, through an interpreter, fully understood the charge and the consequences of pleading guilty.
Sessions Court judge Marutin Pagan accepted Toh’s plea of guilt and ordered the proceeds from the sale of the seized diesel fuel to be forfeited to the government through the enforcement agency’s Department account.
The charge against Toh stated that he had the controlled article, 400 litres of diesel fuel, in his possession under circumstances that raised reasonable suspicion of engaging in wholesale or retail dealing without a licence, as per subregulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974.
The offence occurred on Jan 11 at around 11.15am at the Markas Taktikal Police Marin Wilayah 5, Jalan Lanang.
It falls under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and is punishable under subsection 22(1) of the same Act, read in conjunction with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
The Act stipulates that individuals, excluding corporate bodies but including directors or officers of such bodies, found guilty of offences under this Act may face a fine not exceeding RM1mil, imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both.
For subsequent offences, the penalty may involve a fine of up to RM3mil, a maximum imprisonment term of five years, or both.
Toh, seeking leniency, chose to pay the fine instead of serving the default sentence.
