SEREMBAN: A 38-year-old manager of a company running a nasi kandar restaurant has been fined RM100,000 by the Sessions Court after he pleaded guilty to a charge of storing subsidised cooking oil at an unlicensed premises.
Judge Mohamad Kamil Nizam also ordered Das Jhonny Chardra, who is a Bangladeshi, to serve six months in jail in the event he was unable to pay the fine.
The accused was charged with storing the controlled item weighing 1,241kg in jerry cans in an unlicensed premises.
The offence was committed at a hostel for the restaurant employees around 3.15pm on April 26 last year.
Das Jhonny was charged under Section 20(1) of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, which is punishable under Section 22(1) of the same legislation.
Offenders can be fined up to RM1mil, jailed for up to three years or both, upon conviction.
Das Jhonny had claimed trial when charged on Dec 19 last year.
In mitigation, lawyer Ashok Atimulan said his client is married with a child and also has to provide for his parents back home.
He said his client, who is the main provider for the family, was also remorseful.
“This is my client’s first offence and he has also been cooperative with the authorities since the raid.
“I am pleading for a light sentence in the form of a fine and that his passport be returned,” he said.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry deputy public prosecutor Nor Alimah Mohd Sanusi pushed for a heavy sentence, pointing out that there was a reason why Parliament had increased the fine for such an offence from RM100,000 to RM1mil.
She said the court should also take into account that cooking oil is a controlled item.
Nor Alimah said the leakage of controlled goods is a national issue that affects the country’s economy and the people.
“The public interest factor requires the court to impose a severe punishment to be able to deter other traders from committing the same offence,” she added.
