Business Partners, Lorry Driver Fined RM200,000 Each Over Illegal Diesel Possession

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Two business partners and a lorry driver were each fined RM200,000 by the Kuala Selangor Sessions Court today after pleading guilty to possessing 25,969 and 15,906 litres of diesel, respectively, without a valid licence.

Judge Nurul Mardhiah Mohammed Redza also ordered Chia Yong Zhu, 31, his female business partner Eng Ai Peng, 45, and lorry driver K. Sukuru, 54, as persons summoned, to serve 16 months in prison if they failed to pay the fine.

All three paid the fines.

The court also granted an application by Deputy Public Prosecutor from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), Mohd Sophian Zakaria, for the proceeds from the sale of the seized diesel worth RM113,900 and the lorry used by Sukuru to be forfeited to the Government of Malaysia.

Chia and Eng, directors of Soon Wang Trading, were charged with possessing 25,969 litres of diesel found in five skid tanks under suspicious circumstances at a premises in Pekan Sungai Besar at 5 pm on March 5, 2024.

Sukuru faced a separate charge of possessing 15,906 litres of diesel found in a lorry at the same premises, date and time.

They were charged with violating Regulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974 for dealing in diesel, a scheduled controlled item, either by retail or wholesale, without a licence.

The charge was framed under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and is punishable under Section 22(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum fine of RM1 million or imprisonment not exceeding three years, or both. For subsequent offences, the penalty increases to a maximum fine of RM3 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

According to the facts of the case, on March 5, 2024, a team of KPDN enforcement officers, in collaboration with officers from the Special Branch of the Royal Malaysia Police from the Selangor contingent headquarters, conducted a raid and inspection at the Sungai Besar 2 Diesel Sales Centre in Pekan Sungai Besar, Sabak Bernam, Selangor.

The inspection led to the discovery of 25,969 litres of diesel in five skid tanks on the premises and 15,906 litres of diesel in a tank lorry. The authorities then proceeded with the seizure of the diesel.

Today’s prosecution was also handled by Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Hakiim Izani.

-- BERNAMA