Unemployed Man Claims Trial To Possessing 3,000 Litres Of Diesel Without Valid Licence

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- An unemployed man pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to a charge of possessing 3,000 litres of diesel without a valid licence last week.

M Saravanan, 24, was charged with possessing controlled goods, namely 3,000 litres of diesel, under circumstances that gave rise to reasonable suspicion, inside a lorry by the roadside near a school along Jalan Air Jernih, Setapak, at 5.50 pm on April 24.

He was charged under Regulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974 for dealing in controlled goods wholesale or retail without a licence under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, punishable under Section 22(1) of the same Act.

If convicted, he faces a maximum fine of RM1 million or imprisonment of up to three years, or both. For a second or subsequent offence, the penalty increases to a maximum fine of RM3 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) prosecuting officer M Selvaraju proposed bail of RM30,000 with one surety while the accused, who was unrepresented, appealed for a lower bail on the grounds that he is currently unemployed.

Judge Mazuliana Abdul Rashid allowed bail at RM30,000 with one surety and set June 2 for case mention.

-- BERNAMA