KUALA PILAH: A company and its two directors were separately charged at the Sessions Court here with supplying 13 bags of "Super Import" rice to a supermarket when in actual fact its contents were not as claimed.
Serba Wangi Sdn Bhd and its directors Lim Hooi Chung, 50, and Low Kok Chung, 53, were charged with supplying the bags of rice to the supermarket in Bahau near here using a false trade description.
The company and both its directors were also charged with falsely declaring the composition of the 13 bags of rice before judge Norma Ismail.
The company and both the directors had allegedly claimed that the bags contained less than 5% of broken rice content.
They allegedly committed the offences at 1.20pm on Oct 10, 2023, at the supermarket.
The company and the two accused were charged under Section 5(1)(d) of the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 read together with Section 6 (1)(a) and (d) of the same legislation.
Lim, who appeared on behalf of the company, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him by the interpreter.
The two accused also claimed trial after the charges were read to them later.
The provision states that it is illegal for anyone to supply or offer to supply any goods to which a false trade description has been applied.
Companies can be fined up to RM250,000 if found guilty of the offence. Individuals can be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed up to three years or both upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry Mohd Sophian Zakaria then proposed bail of RM20,000 for each charge to the directors.
Mohd Sophian who was assisted by Nor Alimah Mohd Sanusi said the alleged offences were serious as it involved rice subsidised by the government.
However, counsel for the accused Terence Naidu asked the court to release the accused on a security bond.
He suggested an amount of RM3,000 if the court were to impose bail.
Judge Norma then set bail at RM20,000 for each of the accused and ordered them not to contact prosecution witnesses.
She then fixed Jan 2 for next mention and March 17 and 18 for trial.
