TWO traders pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Kubu Bharu Sessions Court today to a charge of possessing a scheduled controlled item – 9,820kg of wholesale cooking oil – without a licence three months ago.

Ng Soo Hua, 45, and Lum Teck Fong, 46, made the plea after the charges against them were read before judge Siti Fatimah Talib.

They were charged under regulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974.

The duo were accused of committing the offence at the Sri Pagi Trading Centre, Sungai Choh, Kuala Lumpur, at 6pm on August 2 under section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, punishable under section 22(1) of the same act and read together with section 34 of the penal code.

The section provides for a maximum fine of RM1 million, imprisonment of up to three years, or both. Second and subsequent offences carry a fine of not more than RM5 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

Wan Azmir Wan Majid represented the duo.

The court allowed each trader bail of RM8,000 with one surety and fixed December 14 for mention of the case for submissions. – Bernama, November 3, 2023.