Construction Firm Fined RM25,000 for Possessing Diesel Without Permit
Company pleads guilty to storing over 2,400 litres of controlled fuel in enforcement case
IPOH, March 4 — A construction-related company was fined RM25,000 by the Sessions Court here today after admitting to possessing a large quantity of diesel without a valid permit, in violation of Malaysia’s supply control regulations.
Great Tunnel Sdn. Bhd., represented by its director Kee Soon Ngeit, 45, pleaded guilty to the charge before Sessions Court judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad.
Following the guilty plea, the court imposed a fine of RM25,000 on the company after considering the facts of the case and the submission by the prosecution.
In addition to the monetary penalty, the court ordered that proceeds from the sale of seized diesel fuel, estimated to be worth RM5,731.65, along with 16 plastic barrels used to store the fuel, be forfeited to the government.
However, the court ruled that the lorry involved in the case be returned to its registered owner, Jernih Spektrum Sdn. Bhd.
According to the case details presented in court, authorities discovered that the company had in its possession a total of 2,439 litres of diesel stored inside 16 plastic barrels placed in a lorry.
The large quantity of diesel and the manner in which it was stored raised reasonable suspicion that the controlled fuel was intended for unauthorised retail distribution or handling.
Such actions constitute a breach of Regulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974, which prohibits individuals or companies from dealing with controlled goods such as diesel without the necessary permits issued by authorities.
The offence was alleged to have taken place at a diesel storage facility located within a construction materials maintenance area without an address number along Lebuh Pengkalan Barat 12 in Taman Pengkalan Pertama, within the Kinta district.
Authorities said the violation occurred at approximately 2.30pm on July 6, 2023, during an enforcement operation conducted at the site.
The company was charged under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, which governs the possession and handling of controlled items without proper authorisation.
Under Section 22(1) of the same Act, offenders found guilty may face fines of up to RM1 million, imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
For repeat offences, penalties may be significantly higher, including fines of up to RM3 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
The prosecution in this case was conducted by Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) prosecuting officer Mohamad Nazreen Zabarudin.
Great Tunnel Sdn. Bhd. was not represented by legal counsel during the court proceedings and subsequently settled the fine imposed by the court.
Authorities continue to stress the importance of compliance with supply control laws, particularly in cases involving subsidised fuel such as diesel, which remains vulnerable to misuse and illegal distribution.
-wilayah.com.my
