Lorry Driver Held Over Alleged Use Of Fake Permits To Buy Subsidised Petrol

BANDAR PERMAISURI, May 23 (Bernama) -- A lorry driver has been detained on suspicion of using forged permits to purchase subsidised petrol for sale to industrial operators.

Terengganu Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) director Mohd Mufsi Lat said the local man, in his 30s, was detained during an Ops Tiris 4.0 raid conducted at a petrol station in Merang near here at 7.30 am today.

He said two drums containing 500 litres of subsidised petrol worth approximately RM1,600 were also seized during the operation.

“Surveillance and intelligence gathering were conducted for two weeks after suspicious activities involving subsidised controlled goods were detected at the petrol station.

“Inspections found that the lorry driver, who works with a travel agency, had 10 permits, eight of which were found to be invalid or fake,” he told a press conference here today, adding that items seized during the operation, including a lorry, were valued at RM46,800.

Mohd Mufsi said the modus operandi involved making purchases up to four times a day using permits left at petrol stations, enabling fuel to be filled into drums.

He added that the case was being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 (Act 122).

Meanwhile, Mohd Mufsi said Terengganu KPDN had recorded 10 cases involving seizures amounting to RM220,409.70 under Ops Tiris 4.0, which was carried out from March 16 until yesterday.

“The Terengganu KPDN has also carried out 1,614 inspection operations at various premises and petrol stations across the state since March 16,” he said.

--BERNAMA