KOTA TINGGI: Three companies were charged at a magistrate's court here with fraud for exporting more than the declared quantity of silica sand.
The companies including a private concessionaire faced two charges each on Thursday (Feb 28).
The other two firms are involved in tugboat and barge transportation and freight forwarding.
Their representatives pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Mazana Sinin set March 12 for the case to be rementioned and for submission of documents.
Bail for each of the company was set at RM10,000 with one surety.
A total of two tugboats and two boats along with 16 crew members were detained during an operation on Feb 8 between 3.45pm and 6.30pm.
According to the charges, the companies allegedly tried to fraud the Malaysian government by transporting silica sand worth RM5,813.32 and RM5230.29 on Feb 8.
They face a fine of up to 20 times the customs duties or a maximum imprisonment of five years or both.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohammad Mohd Nasir prosecuted while lawyer P.S Segaran represented the accused.
In the same court, Mazana also released the 16 crew members, all Indonesians, on bond.
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