Lorry Owner Charged With Possessing 3,399 Litres Of Diesel Without Licence

KOTA BHARU, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- A lorry owner pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to two charges, possessing 3,399 litres of diesel without a licence and failing to present information or documents regarding the fuel.

Rosli Hassan, 64, was charged with possessing the controlled item, diesel fuel amounting to 3,399 litres, found in his tanker lorry on Jalan Kampung Gong Kala Sungai Petai, Pasir Puteh at 5 am on Feb 2.

He was accused of violating Regulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974, which pertains to dealing in controlled goods such as diesel fuel on a retail or wholesale basis without a valid licence.

He was charged under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, which is punishable under Section 22(1) of the same act. If convicted, the offender can be fined up to RM1 million or face a maximum prison term of three years, or both.

For the second charge, the accused was charged with failing to present information or documents regarding the controlled diesel fuel at the same place, date, and time.

The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), Wan Mohd Izzat Wan Abdullah, together with Prosecuting Officer Muhammad Iman Masjuri, while the accused was represented by counsel Muhamad Hanis Mohd Shariff.

Wan Mohd Izzat proposed bail at RM40,000 for the first charge and RM25,000 for the second, citing the government's seriousness in curbing the leakage of controlled diesel supplies.

The accused was also ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses and to report to the KPDN Kelantan office every month. The case was set for mention on Dec 12.

-- BERNAMA