Five company employees deny possessing over 10,500kg of subsidised cooking oil without a licence in a case involving public interest.

KUALA LUMPUR: Five employees of a cooking oil supply company have pleaded not guilty to possessing 10,502 kilogrammes of the controlled item without a valid licence.

The accused are local man Muhammad Akmal Daud, 31, Indonesian Alif Kurniawan, 24, and three Bangladesh nationals Mohimelun Shekh, 28, Moniruzzaman, 29, and Md Mamun Hossen, 23.

They allegedly committed the offence at premises in the Bukit OUG Industrial Park at 12.30am last Friday.

The charge, framed under Regulation 21(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974, relates to possessing cooking oil in circumstances raising reasonable suspicion of dealing with it at retail or wholesale level without a licence.

If convicted, they face a fine of up to RM1 million or imprisonment of up to three years, or both, with penalties increasing for subsequent offences.

Prosecuting officer K. Selvarajoo from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry proposed bail of RM40,000 for Muhammad Akmal and RM50,000 each for the four foreign nationals, citing the high quantity and value of the oil involved.

“The quantity of cooking oil involved is high at 10,502 kg with a value of RM29,335.60,” he said, adding the case involved public interest concerning the leakage of subsidised cooking oil meant for consumers.

Defence lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz requested lower bail, stating all the accused earned low incomes and were merely employees receiving minimum wages.

Judge Siti Shakirah Mohtaruddin allowed Muhammad Akmal bail of RM10,000 with one surety, while granting each foreign national bail of RM10,000 with two sureties.

The court also ordered all accused to surrender their passports and fixed April 13 for case mention.

 The Sun Malaysia