PUTRAJAYA, Aug 9 — The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) has busted a syndicate involved in the embezzlement of subsidised cooking oil on Tuesday (August 6), which is believed to have turned a store in Jeram into a base for repackaging activities.
Its enforcement director-general Datuk Azman Adam said during the Op Tiris 3.0 operation at 2.30pm that day, KPDN in cooperation with the police found a lorry containing one-kg packets of cooking oil.
They also discovered a cylindrical tank containing nearly 4,000kg of cooking oil, along with 128 plastic packets of one-kg cooking oil of various brands with the seals cut.
“Several business documents have been seized for further investigation. The total value of the seizure is estimated at RM64,567.50,” he said.
Based on the intelligence gathered, the syndicate is suspected of buying subsidised one kg packets of cooking oil and hoarding them at an illegal store operating without a valid licence to store controlled goods.
“The one kg packets of cooking oil are then cut open to be transferred into a cylindrical tank and re-bottled before being sold at the price of non-subsidised cooking oil,” Azman said.
A local man in his 50s, the lorry driver, has been detained for investigations.
An investigation paper has been opened under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 to identify other individuals/companies involved in the embezzlement and the distribution chain of the re-packaged cooking oil.
The store involved has violated Regulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974 by dealing in and selling wholesale or retail any scheduled controlled goods without a licence.
In addition, the company will also be investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001).
— Bernama
