Eight individuals comprising four boat owners and four boat operators pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court on Thursday to charges of possessing nearly 19,837 litres of subsidised diesel without a valid licence.
The accused, identified as Mohd Raffi Ramli, 47; Haziq Haiqal Bahrom, 24; Zawawi Zakaria, 48; Mohd Shahrul Azan Ismail, 39; Mohd Zurin Yahya, 51; Muhammad Nor Haffizi Azhar, 24; Muhamad Haika Dalwis, 22; and Ahmad Fahami Sukrie Mohamad, 33, entered their pleas after the charges were read before Judge Zulkpli Abdullah.
In a broader context, authorities continue to intensify enforcement efforts against fuel subsidy leakage, particularly involving large-scale diesel storage and distribution activities.
They are accused of possessing between 2,203 and 4,990 litres each of controlled diesel stored in boat tanks and storage containers at Pangkalan Nazori, Kampung Geting in Tumpat at about 4.53pm on April 12.
The offences fall under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, punishable under Section 22(1), which provides for a fine of up to RM1 million, imprisonment of up to three years, or both upon conviction.
The court allowed bail ranging from RM4,000 to RM10,000 for each accused, with total bail amounting to RM68,000.
All accused paid bail and the court fixed July 2 for mention of the case.
