KUALA LUMPUR: Five Myanmar nationals and a local man were charged at the Selayang Court here on Tuesday (Aug 26) with possessing controlled goods, namely cooking oil, without a valid licence.
The accused were Wong Shu Chi and five Myanmar nationals - Aye Min Thu, Aung Ko Ko, Htet Aung, Htet Naung, and Than Soe Aung.
Wong pleaded not guilty, while no plea was recorded for the five Myanmar nationals after the charge against them was read before Judge Norazlin Othman.
All the accused were jointly charged with possessing 11,883kg of scheduled controlled goods, namely cooking oil, in circumstances that raised reasonable suspicion at a premises in the Nautical Industrial Park, Rawang, at 11.30am on Aug 20.
They were alleged to have violated Regulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974 and were charged under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
The offence is punishable under Section 22(1) of the same Act, with a maximum fine of RM1 million, or imprisonment of up to three years, or both. Subsequent offences carry a maximum fine of RM3mil, or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, if convicted.
The court allowed Wong bail of RM10,000 and fixed Sept 23 for mention and the appointment of an interpreter for the five foreign accused.
The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Hafizi Abdul Halim from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, while Wong was represented by Mohd Amin Arsan. - Bernama
