by SHAFIQQUL ALIFF / pic by BERNAMA

THE Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) has cracked down on subsidised diesel embezzlement activities at a petrol station in Klang, Selangor last Thursday.

KPDNHEP director Azman Adam (picture) said in a statement that the raid was carried out at 10pm by a team of its members from Putrajaya through the intelligence conducted over the past few weeks.

The total confiscated amount of petrol is worth RM74,862.50, he added.

According to Azman, a tanker truck was loading diesel fuel into a storage tank at the petrol station when the raid took place, and the lorry driver had just refuelled for RM 250 and further investigation found that the lorry driver had made payment of RM1,000 for the filling in cash at the petrol station involved.

“The inspection also found that two parts of the lorry’s storage tank contained diesel oil estimated at 5,000 litres and KPDNHEP also confiscated diesel oil, a tanker truck, a set of closed-circuit TV decoders, invoices, sales and purchase receipts along with other business documents from the petrol station in question for investigation.

“KPDNHEP also detained a 60-year-old local male lorry driver to assist in the investigation and investigation papers have been opened and made under the Supply Control Act (AKB) 1961 to identify the diesel distribution chain from the petrol station to the buyer level,” he said.

Azman said any individual who committed such offenses could be prosecuted under AKB 1961 and if convicted could be fined not more than RM1 million while for subsequent offenses not exceeding RM3 million for an individual or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both.

“As for the company, if convicted, it can be fined not more than RM2 million while for subsequent offenses not more than RM5 million. The ministry will take stern action by temporarily suspending the license of the petrol station until the investigation is completed and the case is finalised.

“The companies involved will also be investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds from Illegal Activities Act 2001 (Act 613) which is the offense of money laundering for detecting, freezing, seizing, and up to the level of forfeiture any revenue or property generated from the illegal activities of diesel oil-related malpractice.

“If convicted of an offense under Act 613, the offender can be jailed for up to 15 years and fined not less than five times the amount or value of the proceeds from the illegal activity or equipment of the offense at the time the offense is committed or RM5 million, whichever is higher,” Azman added.