Kota Kinabalu: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Sabah has achieved a significant milestone by securing its first court conviction of three accused nabbed for diesel abuse through its enforcement action under an integrated Ops Tiris 4.0 operation involving offences under the Supply Control Act 1961.
KPDN Sabah Director Shahril Nizam Shahidin said the trio were ordered to pay fines totalling RM49,000 or a total of 11 months’ jail by respective Sessions Court judges.
In separate proceedings at the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court on Thursday, he said three individuals pleaded guilty to charges of dealing a controlled scheduled item, namely diesel, without a valid licence.
“In the first case, Sessions Court 3 Judge Zaini Fishir @ Fisal ordered 30-year-old Dickson Yii Hung Tie to pay a fine of RM30,000, or six months’ imprisonment. The accused paid the fine.
“In the second case, Sessions Court 4 Judge Marlina Ibrahim imposed a fine of RM8,000 on Dickson and another accused, 35-year-old Abd Rahman Muluk, or two months’ imprisonment. Both paid the fines.
“In the third case, Aznan Abd Rahim, 41, was fined RM3,000, or four weeks’ imprisonment, for the same offence. Aznan also paid the fine,” Shahril said, Friday.
He said all the accused were charged under Regulation 3(1) of the Supply Control Regulations 1974, read together with Section 21 of the Supply Control Act 1961.
Under Section 22(1) of the Supply Control Act 1961, Shahril said the offence carries a penalty of up to RM1 million in fines, imprisonment of up to three years, or both, upon conviction.
“The prosecution in all three cases was conducted by KPDN prosecuting officers TK Gunasegaran Krishnan and TK Malai Rosidi Malai Muhamad, while all the accused were unrepresented,” he said.
He said the court also ordered that proceeds from the sale of the diesel involved be forfeited to the Government of Malaysia, while the vehicles used in the commission of the offences be handed over to KPDN for forfeiture proceedings.
Shahril said the successful conviction under the Integrated Ops Tiris 4.0 operation demonstrated KPDN Sabah’s continued commitment to ensuring that every case with sufficient evidence and testimonies are brought to prosecution and secured with a conviction in court.
This, he said, underscored the Government’s determination to curb leakages and the misappropriation of subsidised diesel in Sabah.
“KPDN will not compromise with any party involved in the misuse of subsidised controlled goods, as such activities not only cause losses to the Government but also affect the interests of the people who are entitled to receive the subsidy,” he said.
Shahril urged the public to continue providing information on any activities involving the smuggling, misuse or misappropriation of controlled goods through KPDN’s official complaint channels to support more effective enforcement efforts.
He said they can channel their complaints to WhatsApp at 019-848 8000, Portal e-aduanKPDN via
http://eaduan.kpdn.gov.my; Call Centre at 1-800-886-800 and Smartphone application at Ez ADU KPDN.
