MELAKA, Oct 2 — A Yemeni man in his 50s has been detained today for investigation into suspected unlawful possession of subsidised cooking oil at an Arab food restaurant in Bukit Baru here.

Melaka Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) director Dr Mohd Hazimin Jamaludin said 230 kilogrammes of packaged cooking oil worth RM575 were found during an Op Tiris 4.0 raid at the premises at about 1.30pm today.

He said the restaurant, which has been operating since 2014, was suspected of misappropriating subsidised cooking oil for commercial purposes following a public complaint and three weeks of intelligence gathering.

The subsidised cooking oil, comprising various brands, was found in several black plastic bags placed among a pile of dry waste, including old carpets, in a corner of the third floor of the premises, which had been converted into a workers’ dormitory.

“The packaged cooking oil was found in several black plastic bags placed among a pile of dry waste such as old carpets in a corner of the third floor of the premises, which had been converted into a workers’ dormitory,” he said in a statement here today.

Mohd Hazimin said the staircase leading to the third floor had been modified to avoid detection by the authorities, and the controlled goods were found during an inspection that lasted about 30 minutes.

He said preliminary investigations found that the packaged cooking oil was delivered together with other dry goods using a courier service, while the orders were allegedly placed by the restaurant’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Mohd Hazimin said the Yemeni man, who was the restaurant supervisor, was detained to assist investigations under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for possessing controlled goods under circumstances giving rise to reasonable suspicion of an offence.

He said an individual convicted of the offence could be fined up to RM1 million or imprisoned for up to three years, or both, while a company could be fined up to RM2 million for a first offence.

Meanwhile, he reminded individuals and companies not to manipulate, misappropriate or deal in controlled goods without valid permits and licences. — Bernama