A teenage boy pleaded not guilty at the Butterworth Sessions Court on Monday to a charge of possessing more than 3,000 litres of diesel without a valid licence last week.
M. Thiinesh, 19, entered the plea after the charge was read before Judge Zulhazmi Abdullah.
According to the charge, the accused was allegedly found in possession of 3,455 litres of diesel, classified as a controlled scheduled item, which was stored inside six intermediate bulk container (IBC) tanks placed at the rear section of a canvas lorry.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) storage complex in Bukit Minyak Industrial Area, Penang, at around 11.30pm on May 14.
He was charged under Regulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974, read together with Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 (Act 122), and punishable under Section 22(1) of the same Act.
If convicted, the accused faces a fine of up to RM1 million, imprisonment of up to three years, or both. For a second or subsequent offence, the punishment could increase to a maximum RM2 million fine, up to five years in prison, or both.
The prosecution was handled by KPDN deputy public prosecutor S. Preeya Darrsini and KPDN prosecuting officer Alsad Nasrullah.
The court later allowed bail of RM10,000 with one surety, along with an additional condition requiring the accused to report to the KPDN investigating officer every month.
June 24 was fixed for the appointment of legal counsel.
