Five special Sessions Court set up for anti-profiteering cases

PUTRAJAYA: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry announced today that five special Session Courts will be set up by the government to hear cases dealing with anti-profiteering.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek said this was factored in to the nations budget under the Prime Minister’s office but it will not be implemented immediately.
“It is going to take up a lot of costs, but for now these cases will be tried in Session’s Courts in respective states,” he said while speaking to the media at the ministry’s Annual General Meeting here.
He also added that there was already a special anti-profiteering court in Jalan Duta which is just for anti-profiteering cases.
“We have tried cases there and even handed out judgements to offenders between RM40,000 to RM150,000. But there are not many cases being tried there as most cases are being tried in respective states,” he said.
He also said that if there were more cases, it would be better to try them at Jalan Duta but he added that there weren’t many cases at the present moment.
Meanwhile, the results of the Ops Catut 2 which was held by the ministry from April 1 to June 15, 2015 had confiscated a total RM229,298 and had meted out compounds worth RM212,370.
Anti-profiteering checks were done on a total 481,636 premises across the country since Monday and a total 1,363 defaulters were detected.
Malek said the public needed to play an active role and report to the ministry if they know of anti-profiteers.
“We want specific details and then we can investigate, tell us your issues and we will investigate,” he said.
He also said that the ministry will also be a special price control scheme in for certain items for the upcoming festive season.
“If traders are caught selling more than the stipulated prices, we will fine them on the spot ,” he said adding that the list will be out soon.