Kota Kinabalu: An attempt to embezzle 17,195 litres of diesel at an unnumbered storage facility in Inanam was foiled by the Sabah Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN).
Its Director Georgie Abas said a local, believed to be the owner of the premises, was arrested to assist in the investigation under the Supply Control Act 1961.
He said a KPDN team staked out the premises for three days before raiding it at 5.20pm, which also saw items like skid tanks, electronic pumps and related paraphernalia seized.
“We seize a total of 17,195 litres of diesel in a tanker lorry and estimate that all the confiscated items are worth over RM93,000,” he said in a statement, Tuesday.
“The confiscated equipment worth RM93,660.25 are believed to be used for the embezzlement,” he added.
Georgie said based on preliminary evidence, the store’s owner claimed that the controlled items were obtained from a legitimate industrial diesel supplier.
“However, they failed to submit any valid authorisation and licence documents to store controlled items.
“An investigation will be carried out in accordance with Section 20(1) of the Supply Control Act 1961 for storing controlled goods in a place without permission,” he said.
Georgie said the investigation would also be carried out in accordance with Section 21 of the same Act for possessing controlled goods with the intention of committing an offence, which is read together with Regulation 3(1) of the Supply Control Regulations 1974, which is conducting controlled goods transactions without a licence.
According to the Supply Control Act 1961 (Act 122), any individual convicted of an offence can be fined not more than RM1 million, while for subsequent offences not more than RM3 million or imprisonment not more than three years or both.
As for the company, if found guilty, it can lead to a fine not exceeding RM2 million, while for subsequent offences not exceeding RM5 million.
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