KOTA KINABALU: Five men have been arrested in Penampang to facilitate investigations into the illegal sale of subsidised diesel.
In the Sunday (April 12) night raid, a team of marine police raided a premises in Kampung Kibabaig following information received.
"There, five men were detained to facilitate investigations while equipment, a lorry and electric pumps were seized, among other things," said Sabah Region Four Marine Police commander Asst Comm Ahmad Amri Abd Rahman said in a statement on Monday (April 13).
He said further inspection of the premises led to the discovery of 6,230 litres of diesel stored there.
Initial probes found that the diesel was bought at a subsidised rate of RM2.15 per litre and would be sold to industries at RM6.50 per litre.
"The diesel (we found) cost a total of RM13,394.50 but (the intended resale value) came to RM41,865.60.
"This causes leakages of subsidies amounting to RM28,471.10," ACP Ahmad Amri said, adding that the case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
He said leakages and illegal activities such as this would affect the country’s economy and reduce revenue which is supposed to be for the benefit of the people.
"We will continue enforcing laws and boosting patrols to curb such illegal activities for the safety and sovereignty of the country," he added.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry also foiled a similar attempt when conducting Ops Tiris 4.0 around the city on Friday (April 10).
During surveillance and monitoring at petrol stations, a ministry team noticed a man acting suspiciously while refuelling a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The ministry's Sabah director Shahril Nizam Shaidin said in a statement today that they found the vehicle to have a modified tank with an additional 100-litre capacity, exceeding the allowed volume, he said.
He said the driver, in his 30s, was detained to facilitate investigations.
The vehicle was found to be filled with over 250 litres of diesel worth around RM12,897.35, he added.
The permitted volume for land transport is tiered at 50 litres, 100 litres and 150 litres per transaction for different vehicles, Shahril said.
He said the suspect is being probed under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and could be fined up to RM1mil or imprisoned up to three years, or both, if convicted for the first offence.
For the second and subsequent offences, a person can be fined up to RM3mil and jailed up to five years, or both; while companies convicted of the same offence can be fined up to RM2mil for the first offence, and up to RM5mil for the second and subsequent offences.
Shahril urged the public to work with the ministry to prevent smuggling and leakages of controlled and subsidised goods by sending information to it by WhatsApp at 019-848 8000; the e-Aduan KPDN (https://eaduan.kpdn.gov.my) portal; Call Centre at 1-800-886-800; or via the Ez ADU KPDN phone application.
