TAWAU: Three Filipinos were each sentenced to eight months in prison for illegally possessing 5,450 litres of petrol stored in 218 cans earlier this month.
Abdul Majid Alkano, 31, Abu Bakar Ibrahim, 28, and Omar Barli, 33, pleaded guilty separately before Sessions Court Judge Ahmad Faizadh Yahaya.
They admitted to jointly committing the offence in Omadal Northern waters, off the coast of Semporna, at around 6am on April 8, this year when they were found in possession the controlled goods, namely 5,450 litres of petrol without a licence.
They were charged under Section 22(1) of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, which carries a penalty of a fine not exceeding RM1 million, imprisonment not exceeding three years, or both, on conviction.
According to case facts, the men were detained by a team from the General Operations Force (PGA) in Kunak who inspected a fibre boat they were on and seized the petrol stored in 218 cans, estimated to be worth RM11,172.50.
The case was later handed over to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), Semporna Branch, for further investigation.
The court also ordered the trio referred to the Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM) after serving their sentences.
KPDN Semporna Prosecuting Officer Delmansyah Syaripuddin prosecuted, while the accused were unrepresented.