Company, executives charged with violating customs law in meat cartel case

A frozen food supplier, its director and manager who had been charged with using fake trade descriptions were today charged in the Sessions Court in Johor Bahru with other offences.

LY Frozen Food Sdn Bhd, its director Yong Chee Keong, 40, and manager Chong Kim Kuang, 48, were charged with four counts each of abetment and possession of prohibited goods worth RM643,465.39 on Dec 15 last year.

Yong claimed trial after the charges against him were read out together with those against the company before judge Wan Mohd Nor Hisham Wan Yaakob.

Chong also claimed trial before judge Ahmad Fuad Othman in a separate court.

According to the charge sheet, Yong, who also appeared on behalf of the company, along with Tan Siew Huak, 42, who is still at large, were charged with four counts of possessing prohibited goods worth RM643,465.39.

Chong faces four charges of colluding with LY Frozen Food, Yong and Tan over possession of the prohibited goods.

The offences were allegedly committed at No. 663, Jalan 3/4, Desa Idaman Industrial Estate in Senai, Kulai on Dec 15 last year.

The prohibited items included 821 boxes of frozen beef from the Warrnambool brand, 264 boxes of frozen lamb from the Viro Carni brand and 252 boxes of frozen chicken from the Seara brand.

They were charged under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, which provides for a fine of no less than 10 times and no more than 20 times the value of the goods, imprisonment not exceeding five years, or both, upon conviction.

The court set bail at RM100,000 for Yong with one surety, along with an additional condition requiring him to report to the nearest police station twice a month.

The court also set bail at RM60,000 for Chong with two sureties, with the same additional condition.

It set June 3 for mention and submission of documents for the charges.

The prosecution was handled by deputy public prosecutors Jasmee Hameeza Jaafar and Nur Suriati Mohamad while the company, Yong and Chong were represented by lawyers Zamri Idrus, Ridzuan Othman and Saifuz Zaman Abd Rahman.

In February, the same company and executives were charged at the Sessions Court with 21 counts of possessing and distributing unauthorised frozen products and using false halal logos.