TAWAU: An illegal immigrant was jailed 12 months by the Sessions Court here for possessing controlled goods without a permit last year.
Mubin Butun received the sentence from Sessions Court Judge Ahmad Faizadh Yahaya after pleading guilty to the charge.
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He was charged with possessing scheduled controlled goods at the retail or wholesale level without a licence, namely 480 litres of petrol, 300 litres of diesel and 42 units of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), under circumstances that gave rise to reasonable suspicion that an offence had been committed under Regulation 3(1) of the Supply Control Regulations 1974.
Mubin committed the offence in the waters north of Mataking Island, Semporna, at about 7.30am on Dec 26, 2025.
He was charged under Section 21 of the Supply Control Act 1961, read together with Regulation 3(1) of the Supply Control Regulations 1974, and punishable under Section 22(1) of the same Act.
Upon conviction, the offence carries a penalty of a fine of up to RM1 million, imprisonment for up to three years, or both.
The court also ordered that the seized controlled goods be sold, with the proceeds forfeited to the Government.
The non-controlled items were ordered to be handed over to the prosecution for disposal.
The court further ordered that Mubin be referred to the Malaysian Immigration Department upon completion of his prison sentence.
The prosecution was conducted by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) Semporna Branch prosecuting officer Samat Mapiare @ Muparia, while the accused was unrepresented.
Meanwhile, KPDN Semporna Branch chief Mohammad Roli Aliman said the successful prosecution was the result of continuous enforcement under Ops Tiris 4.0 (Integrated) to curb the smuggling and misuse of subsidised controlled goods.
He said the department would continue to intensify enforcement operations and take firm action against any individual or party found violating laws related to the control of scheduled goods.
