KOTA KINABALU: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will step up its efforts to curb the misappropriation of controlled goods in Sandakan.
This was after the successful court case against two men who were found to be illegally in possession of large amounts of fuel in the Sabah east coast district last week.
“We will continue to beef up checks under the operation, Ops Tiris, to curtail any leakages and misappropriation of essential goods in the district,” said the ministry’s Sandakan chief enforcement officer Azdy Zukkry John, in a statement on Tuesday (Feb 13).
The Sandakan Sessions Court had on Feb 9 slapped Jefferson Hayat, 30, and Mubin Rahman, 41, a RM10,000 fine each or, in default, 15 months’ imprisonment for having over 500 litres of petrol without the necessary permission.
Sessions Court judge Zaini Fishir@Fisal handed the sentence after the duo pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, which is punishable under Section 22(1) of the same Act.
The court also found they had breached Rule 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulation 1974, which was dealing a combined 540 litres of petrol either for wholesale or retail without a licence.
Azdy said Jefferson was unable to pay the fine and would serve the jail term while Mubin settled the fine.
He said the court had also ordered Jefferson, who did not have valid travel documents, to be referred to the Immigration Department on completion of his sentence.
Mubin, an IMM13 immigration pass holder, was subsequently referred to the Immigration Department after he paid the fine.
The prosecution was handled by Othman Said from the ministry.
Azdy said the men were arrested at a fuel station in Sandakan town during Ops Tiris at 6.20pm on Feb 6.
He said Jefferson had 240 litres of petrol in his possession while Mubin had 300 litres of the same fuel.
“They did not have a licence or permission to have that quantity of petrol,” he said.
Under Section 22(1) of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 (Act 122), he said, any individual found guilty was liable to a fine of not more than RM1mil, up to three years in jail, or both.
A second offence would see the perpetrator fined not more than RM3mil or up to five years in jail, or both, on conviction, he added.
“If found guilty, companies face a maximum of RM2mil for the first offence and RM5mil for subsequent offences,” Azdy said.
