SEREMBAN: A 28-year-old storekeeper has claimed trial in the Sessions Court here to a charge of illegally possessing 17,232kg of liquefied petroleum gas, which is a controlled item.
Chong Ming Fei pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before judge Hazeelia Muhammad on Wednesday (May 7).
Six Myanmar nationals Min Min, Thar Tun, Thein Than Oo, Aung Min Tun, Kyaw Thu Ya and Myo Thu Htet aged between 22 and 27 were jointly charged with Chong but no plea was recorded from them as they did not understand the charge read to them in Bahasa Malaysia.
The seven were charged with committing the offence at premises along the Jalan Tun Dr Ismail light industrial area around 9pm on April 30.
They were charged under section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and punishable under Section 21(1) of the same legislation.
Offenders can be fined up to RM1mil or jailed up to three years or both upon conviction.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry prosecuting officer Sallim Wahid said his team was offering Lim a bail of RM30,000 pending a remention while no bail was offered to the six foreigners.
However, Lim appealed for a low amount as he only earned RM3,500 and had to provide for his parents and a younger brother still in school.
Hazeelia then set bail at RM15,000 for Lim with one surety. He was also asked to surrender his passport to the court if he had one and to report in at the ministry’s office here once a month.
She then fixed the case for remention on June 5 for submission of documents and for the court to engage an interpreter for the Myanmar nationals.
