An unemployed man has pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to a charge of possessing 3,000 litres of diesel without a valid license or permit. The accused, 38-year-old Mohamad Hafizudin, was charged under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 after enforcement officers from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) discovered the fuel stored in several intermediate bulk container (IBC) tanks. The discovery was made during a raid on premises suspected of being a transit point for illegal fuel smuggling activities. 

During the proceedings, the prosecution requested a high bail amount, citing the seriousness of the offence and the large quantity of subsidized fuel involved, which affects the national economy. However, the defence counsel argued for a lower amount, stating that the accused is currently unemployed and has a family to support. The judge eventually granted bail at RM15,000 with one surety and ordered the accused to surrender his passport to the court and report to the nearest police station once a month until the disposal of the case. 

If convicted, the accused faces a fine of up to RM1 million or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both, for a first offence. This case is part of a wider government crackdown known as "Ops Tiris," aimed at curbing the leakage and smuggling of subsidized diesel, which has caused significant losses to the government. The court has fixed the next mention date for May 28 for the submission of documents and to allow for further investigation into the source of the fuel.