SEREMBAN: Five co-workers claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to separate charges of having in their possession subsidised diesel, which is a controlled item, without having a valid licence.
S. Rajakumar, 35, V. Maran, 23, E. Kunaal, 23, R. Poobalan, 44, and S. Kalithas, 31, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them before Judge Mohamad Kamil Nizam.
Rajakumar and Kunaal were charged with having 15,871 litres of the controlled item that was kept in a tanker lorry around 4.30pm on Feb 20, 2024.
The offence was allegedly committed at a premises in Labu.
Rajakumar faced a second charge with Maran for having another 955 litres of diesel stored in an intermediate bulk container (IBC) while Poobalan and Kalithas were charged with having 3,424 litres of the same product in another tanker lorry at the same time and place.
They were charged with violating 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, which is punishable under Section 22(1) of the same Act, carries a fine of up to RM1mil, imprisonment not exceeding three years or both upon conviction.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry prosecuting officer Irwan Shah Abdul Samat then offered the accused bail of RM10,000 with one surety each pending next mention.
The five, who were unrepresented, pleaded for a lower bail as they did not earn much and had to provide for their families.
Judge Mohamad Kamil then offered the accused bail of RM5,000 for each charge. He also ordered them to surrender their passports to the court, to report at the state Domestic Trade and Cost of Living office once a month till the case is disposed of and to stay away from witnesses.
He fixed Nov 4 for submission of documents and for the accused to appoint counsel.
