KLANG, June 1 — A licensed liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) wholesaler was charged in the Sessions Court here today with the possession of the scheduled items exceeding the maximum quantity allowed last year.

TSC Gas Trading Sdn Bhd represented by its director Datuk Chan Tai Heok, 45, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read out before Judge Suzana Hussin.

The company was alleged to have in possession 71,006kg of LPG, namely 21,006kg more than the allowed quantity of 50,000kg as mentioned in the licence and TSC Gas Trading was charged with committing the offence at its business premises in Sekinchan near here, about 1.30pm on June 28, last year.

The company also pleaded not guilty to two charges of allowing a total of 5,040kg of LPG to be transported via two lorries from its storage premises to another premises in Jalan Tiram Buruk, Tanjong Karang, between 10am and 12noon on the same day.

TSC Gas Trading in the meantime pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to produce a stock book on LPG supply in which there was no record detailing each buying and selling transactions from January to June 28, last year.

For all the charges, the company can be punished under the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974, which provides for a maximum fine of RM2 million, if convicted.

Meanwhile, in the same proceedings, Tai Heok, his brother Chan Fai Nee, 46, and their mother Chia Am Moi, 69, each faced four charges in their capacity as directors of the company.

They pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

The charges under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 carries a maximum fine of RM1 million or imprisonment of up to three years, upon conviction.

Tai Heok also faced another charge of manufacturing 10,650kg of LPG without licence at the premises in Jalan Tiram Buruk about 1.30pm on the same day and alleged to have committed the offence with two lorry drivers, namely Ang Chee Eng, 59, and his brother, Ang Kong Keet, 46 but the trio pleaded not guilty.

Meanwhile, Chee Eng and Kong Keet each pleaded not guilty to a charge of transferring 5,040kg of LPG via two lorries from the TSC Gas Trading premises to other premises in Jalan Tiram Buruk between 10am and 12 noon on June 28.

Judge Suzana allowed all the accused to be released on bail with RM10,000 each and fixed July 5 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutors from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, A. Karthiyayini and Mohd Firdaus Abu Hanipah prosecuted while all the accused were represented by counsel Jefri Jaafar. — Bernama