Cook Pleads Not Guilty To Unlicensed Possession Of Over 14,000kg Of Cooking Oil

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 (Bernama) -- A restaurant cook pleaded not guilty at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court today to a charge of possessing 14,534 kilograms (kg) of cooking oil without a license last Thursday.

Ng Jen Choon, 49, was charged alongside three other individuals with dealing in the scheduled goods either by retail or wholesale without a license at a premise in Taman Sri Serdang Phase 4, Seri Kembangan, at 1:00 pm on June 11.

The offence was allegedly committed under Regulation 21(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974, read together with Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, and is punishable under Section 22(1) of the same Act, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

The section provides for a maximum fine of RM1 million or imprisonment for up to three years, or both, upon conviction. For a second or subsequent offence, it carries a fine not exceeding RM3 million or a maximum of five years' imprisonment, or both.

Judge Dr. Syahliza Warnoh granted the man bail at RM8,000 with one surety and is required to report to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) office in Putrajaya once a month, surrender his passport to the court, and refrain from tampering with witnesses.

The court fixed July 13 for case mention for the submission of documents and to charge the other three men for the same offence.

The case was prosecuted by KPDN Prosecuting Officer Nur Abyan Anuar, while the accused was represented by lawyer Nik Muammer Hurrie Mohamad Sukri.

--BERNAMA