Valdor: An unemployed man pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to a charge of possessing 556.5 litres of diesel without a licence last month. Heah Ban How, 44, made the plea after the charge was read out in Mandarin before Judge Roslan Hamid.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the accused was charged with possessing 556.5 litres of scheduled controlled goods, namely diesel, in a modified fuel tank on a Hino lorry at SS Petroleum Sdn Bhd, Lot 1243, Jalan Besar, Chong Nam Estate, Valdor, Sungai Bakap, at about 2 pm on April 29. He was charged under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 (Act 122), which provides for a fine of up to RM1 million, or imprisonment of up to three years, or both, upon conviction.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor S. Preeya Darrsini and Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living prosecuting officer Alsad Nasrullah. Earlier, the prosecution offered bail at RM10,000, while the accused, who was unrepresented, applied for a lower bail on the grounds that he is unemployed and needs to care for his 70-year-old mother. The court then allowed bail at RM10,000 with one surety and fixed June 11 for mention of the case, as well as for the appointment of a lawyer and submission of the chemical report.