JOHOR BARU: A logistics company owner was fined RM25,000 by the Sessions Court here after pleading guilty to illegally possessing over 31,000 litres of subsidised diesel some four years ago.
Azizi Derani, 46, admitted in front of Sessions Judge Datuk Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim to possessing the subsidised diesel here on Thursday (July 16).
According to the charge sheet, he was found with 30,972 litres of subsidised diesel in a tanker lorry and another 237 litres in a steel tank mounted on a four-wheel-drive vehicle at a house in Kampung Sinaran Baru near Skudai here at about 1pm on Aug 15, 2022.
The diesel was kept under circumstances giving rise to reasonable suspicion that it was being dealt with without a licence, contrary to Regulation 3(1) of the Supply Control Regulations 1974.
Azizi was charged under Section 22(1) of the Supply Control Act 1961, which carries a fine of up to RM1mil, a jail term of up to three years, or both, upon conviction.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry prosecuting officer S. Loganathan urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, saying Azizi was a repeat offender who had previously been fined RM7,000 in November last year for a similar offence.
He also told the court that the accused had earlier been offered a RM100,000 compound to settle the case without court proceedings but did not accept it.
Lawyer Nurul Hidayah Basiran, who represented the accused, urged the court to impose a lighter sentence, as Azizi was the sole breadwinner for his family, comprising four unemployed wives, 12 biological children, two adopted children and five stepchildren aged between six and 23.
She added that her client was a physical disability (OKU) cardholder who suffered from diabetes, hypertension and a critical heart condition, and had undergone minor surgery to remove a tumour from his abdomen two days before the court proceedings.
Che Wan Zaidi Che then fined Azizi RM25,000, in default three months' imprisonment.
He also ordered the forfeiture of diesel worth RM74,901.60 to the Government.
Azizi paid the fine.
