Indonesian fined RM10,000 for possessing 68kg cooking oil without licence

File photo for illustration purposes only. Photo credit: Pixabay
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By Dorcas Ting

KUCHING, Feb 3: A 55-year-old Indonesian man was slapped with a RM10,000 fine—or six months’ imprisonment in default—after he pleaded guilty to smuggling 68kg of cooking oil without a licence in the Sessions Court today.

Ruslan Abdul Malik, who appeared before Judge Saiful Bahari Adzmi, admitted to the charge under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, a serious offence that carries hefty penalties of up to RM1 million in fines, a three-year jail sentence, or both. Repeat offenders face even stricter consequences, with fines reaching RM3 million and jail terms of up to five years.

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The smuggling attempt was foiled at a border control post in Sematan, Lundu, near the Malaysia-Indonesia border, at approximately 7.40am on January 31, 2025.

Ruslan, riding a motorcycle, was intercepted by a team from the General Operations Force (GOF) while attempting to cross the border with the illegal cooking oil.

The cooking oil, a controlled commodity under the Control of Supplies Act, was discovered in the cargo.

Authorities immediately detained Ruslan and transferred the case to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) for further investigation. It was confirmed that Ruslan lacked the necessary licence or permit for transporting the controlled goods.

During sentencing, Ruslan explained that he was transporting the cooking oil to Indonesia for a feast, citing personal reasons including his heart disease and his Malaysian wife.

Despite his plea for mercy, the court imposed the fine and ordered the confiscation of the oil, which would be disposed of.

Additionally, the motorcycle used in the offence would be forfeited to the government once the appeal period expires.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Iezzah Iburdanisha Ibrahim represented the prosecution, while Ruslan appeared without a lawyer. – DayakDaily

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