KUCHING: A Chinese medicine company was fined RM5,000 by the Sessions Court here for possessing nine products that were not registered with the Ministry of Health (MOH) for sale.
Han Xiaolei, 53, who is one of the company’s directors, pleaded guilty before Judge Musli Abdul Hamid to the charge under Regulation 30(1) of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984, punishable under Section 12(2) of the Sale of Drugs Act 1952.
If convicted, it carries a fine up to RM50,000 for the first offence and a RM100,000 fine for subsequent offences.
The offence was committed at the company’s premises along Jalan Tun Jugah here at around 2.13 pm on April 27, 2021.
According to case facts, an enforcement team inspected the premises and discovered nine suspected unregistered products with price tags displayed.
Checks later confirmed the products were not registered with the Ministry of Health, violating Regulation 7(1)(a) of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984.
During mitigation, the company’s lawyer, Lim Lian Kee, pleaded for leniency, stating it was the company’s first offence, which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also noted that the business had since closed and ceased selling the products.
However, prosecuting officer, Brian Navaratnam, sought a proportionate sentence as a deterrent and in the public interest.
