MELAKA: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry Melaka has foiled an attempt to misappropriate 10,000 litres of diesel, worth RM21,5000 excluding government subsidy, in a raid at premises in the Krubong Industrial Area, here, on Sunday (May 29).

       Its director, Norena Jaafar, said that during the 7pm raid, two men escaped by climbing over a fence behind the premises, which had been converted into an illegal store used to stock and transfer the misappropriated diesel.

       She said they also seized another 18 fuel tanks with a capacity of 1,000 litres each, as well as two motorcycles, two lorries and extension pipes. The seized items are worth RM135,000.

       "Based on one week of intelligence and surveillance work, we learnt that the syndicate's modus operandi is to go to petrol stations around Melaka and purchase diesel worth between RM300 and RM500 using credit cards, and the process would be done frequently in a period of one week.

       "Our preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate would use a rented lorry, and modify the fuel tank of the vehicle for the purpose," she said to reporters at a press conference here on Monday (May 30).

       She also said that the syndicate would go to any station and would fill the tanks with diesel, which would then be transferred to a modified tank before being rerouted to an additional tank placed in the lorry.

       She then said the diesel would be sold to industries at between RM4 and RM4.30 a litre, compared with the market price of RM2.15 at petrol stations.

       The case was being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 which provides for a fine not exceeding RM1mil or imprisonment not exceeding three years upon conviction, and a fine not exceeding RM3mil for the first offence involving an organisation.

       "We view this matter seriously because it involves government subsidies thus causing huge losses if this activity is allowed to continue unabated," she said.

       Meanwhile, Norena appealed to petrol station operators and workers to work with the government and report to the ministry if they saw any suspicious activities, especially the selling of diesel in large quantities involving the same vehicle frequently.

       She said the public with inquiries or complaints can contact the Melaka Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry Enforcement Command Centre (ECC) at 06-234 5869 or WhatsApp at 019-279 4317, daily from 8am to 6pm. - Bernama