SEREMBAN: The Attorney General's Chambers has rejected a representation filed by the son of a former minister to review charges related to the sale and storage of government-subsidised cooking oil, which is a controlled item.
Nor Alimah Mohd Sanusi, a Deputy Public Prosecutor from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry told Sessions Court Judge Mazni Nawi this when the case came up for mention on Wednesday (Nov 1).
She also told the court that only 39-year-old Muhammad Faisal Hamzah had filed a representation, adding that the other person who was charged with the same offence - 55-year-old Azizul Abdul Halim - did not do so.
Earlier, Muhammad Faisal's lawyers Nasuha Badruldin and Indran Kumaraguru told the court their client had filed a representation on June 28.
Following the development, the prosecution asked the court to proceed and fix the trial dates.
Mazni then set the trial for a 10-day staggered period beginning June 5, 2024
Muhammad Faisal and Azizul, who were then directors of Rimba Merpati Sdn Bhd, a licensed wholesaler of subsidised cooking oil, were first individually charged on April 5 with violating Rule 9(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974 for having more than the allowed 50 metric tonnes of the commodity in their business premises.
As directors, they had allegedly committed an offence punishable under Section 22(1) of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, read together with Section 22(4) of the same legislation, and Section 34 of the Penal Code.
Offenders can be fined up to RM1mil and jailed for not more than three years or both upon conviction.
They allegedly committed the offence at their premises in the Sinar Andalas industrial area in Senawang at around 11.15pm on Aug 11 last year.
Muhammad Faisal is the son of current Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
Rimba Merpati, as a company, was also charged with the same offence, and the duo, who represented it, again pleaded not guilty.
The offence carries a fine of up to RM2mil upon conviction.
Both Muhammad Faisal and Azizul were also charged with providing false information, documents and invoices with regard to the volume of subsidised cooking oil they had in possession and the sale of the commodity.
They were charged under Section 8(4)(b) of the Act, punishable under Section 22(1) of the same legislation, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
Offenders can be fined up to RM1mil and jailed for up to three years or both upon conviction.
Again, as representatives of the company, the two accused claimed trial to all charges.
The offences were allegedly committed at about 5pm on Aug 12, 2022, at the state Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry office in Seremban 2.
Both had claimed trial to all nine charges.
