Four Men, Including Four Myanmar Nationals Charged With Unlawful Possession Of 25,070 Kg LPG

SEREMBAN, Aug  27 (Bernama) -- Four men, comprising a Malaysian and four Myanmar nationals, were charged at the Sessions Court here with unlawful possession of 25,070 kilogrammes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The Malaysian, Chong Ming Fei, 28, who is a restaurant worker, pleaded not guilty to the charge before Judge Mohamad Kamil Nizam.

However, no plea was recorded from the four Myanmar nationals - Mang Zaw, Aung, Naing and Lim - as they did not understand the charge which was read out to them in Malay.

They were jointly charged with another person still at large with possession of the LPG, which is categorised as a controlled item, at an unnumbered premises in Jalan Tampin-Senawang, Senawang Light Industry Area, at about 4 pm last Aug 22.

The LPG, weighing 25,070 kg, comprised 2,408kg in 172 cylinders on ​​a semi-trailer, 15,162 kg in 1,083 cylinders on ​​a platform, 7,000 kg in a tank trailer, and 500 kg in a static tank.

Chong, who is the sole proprietor of ZF Victory Empire, also pleaded not guilty to a similar charge, for unlawful possession of 36,471 litres of diesel at an unnumbered lot, Jalan Nilam 2, Nilam Light Industrial Area, Rantau, here at about 5 pm on May 14 this year.

Both charges were framed under Section 21(1) of the Control of Supplies Act  1961 (Act 122), punishable under Section 22(1) of the same law, and if found guilty, may be fined not exceeding RM1 million or imprisonment of up to three years or both, while for the second and subsequent offences, a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment for up to five years or both.

 Chong was allowed bail of RM9,000 for each charge, while bail for the four Myanmar nationals was set at  RM15,000 each.

They were also ordered to surrender their passports and to report to the Negeri Sembilan office of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN)  once a month pending disposal of the case.

The court set Oct 16 for mention.

Deputy Public Prosecutor from KPDN, Nor Alimah Mohd Sanusi, appeared for the prosecution.

-- BERNAMA