The High Court cannot exercise revisionary powers unless valid reasons are given for failing to file an appeal; it is a back door method to circumvent appeal procedures.

Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid JC:

Preface

[1] By a letter dated 13 November 2019 the Prosecution wrote to this Court seeking this Court's powers of revision with regards to the conviction and sentence that was passed by the Sessions Court on the Respondent ("Application").

Background

[2] The Respondent was charged with an offence under reg 21(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974 ("Regulations") and punishable under s 22(1) of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 ("Act").

[3] The Charge read as follows ("Charge"):

Bahawa kamu pada 28 September 2017, lebih kurang jam 10.45 pagi di premis Sogas Trading beralamat No Lot 20034, Mukim 11, Kampung Bukit, 11900 Bayan Lepas di dalam Daerah Barat Daya dalam Negeri Pulau Pinang sebagai seorang Pemegang Lesen Runcit (No KR 06273) Barang-Barang Kawalan Berjadual iaitu Gas Petroleum Cecair dengan Had Kuantiti sebanyak 1500 kilogram telah didapati memiliki sebanyak 3906 kilogram Gas Petroleum Cecair melebihi had kuantiti yang dinyatakan di dalam lesen yang mana telah melanggar Peraturan 10(1) Peraturan-Peraturan Kawalan Bekalan 1974 dan oleh yang demikian satu kesalahan di bawah Peraturan 21(1) Peraturan-Peraturan Kawalan Bekalan 1974 dan boleh dihukum di bawah s 22(1) Akta Kawalan Bekalan 1961.

[4]Regulations 10(1) and 21(1) of the Regulations read as follows:

10. (1) A retailer shall not have in his possession or under his custody or control at any one time more than such quantity of any scheduled article as may be specified in the licence.

.....

21. (1) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with, any provision of these Regulations, or any direction given under these Regulations, or the terms and conditions of any licence, written authority or permit granted, issued or renewed under these Regulations, shall be guilty of an offence.

[5] Section 22 (1) of the Act read as follows:

22. Penalties

(1) Any person, other than a body corporate, but including a director or officer of a body corporate, who commits an offence against this Act shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding one million ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both, and for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding three million ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.

Proccedings Before The Sessions Court

[6] On 18 July 2019 the Respondent had pleaded guilty to the said Charge in presence of his Counsel. Based on the Notes of Proceedings the Learned Sessions Court Judge was satisfied that the Respondent understood the nature of the offence and the consequences of his plea and that he desired to unconditionally plead guilty to the Charge.

[7] There were 16 exhibits tendered as evidence including the facts of the case (Exhibit P1), Police Report (Exhibit P2), photographs of where the offending items were seized (Exhibit P6 A-l) and Chemist Report (Exhibit P13). The Respondent admitted to the facts of the case and then after the Learned Sessions Court Judge recorded the Respondent's plea of guilt.

[8] What transpired after the Learned Sessions Court Judge recorded the plea of guilt serves as the basis for this Application.

[9] After the plea of guilt was accepted and recorded, the Learned Sessions Court Judge then amended the Charge. The amended Charge ("Amended Charge") read as follows:

Bahawa kamu pada 28 September 2017, lebih kurang jam 10.45 pagi di premis Sogas Trading beralamat No Lot 20034, Mukim 11, Kampung Bukit, 11900 Bayan Lepas di dalam Daerah Barat Daya dalam Negeri Pulau Pinang sebagai seorang Pemegang Lesen Runcit (No KR 06273) Barang-Barang Kawalan Berjadual iaitu Gas Petroleum Cecair dengan Had Kuantiti sebanyak 1500 kilogram telah didapati memiliki sebanyak 1540 kilogram Gas Petroleum Cecair yang mana sebanyak 40 kilogram Gas Petroleum Cecair melebihi had kuantiti yang dinyatakan di dalam lesen yang mana telah melanggar Peraturan 10(1) Peraturan-Peraturan Kawalan Bekalan 1974 dan oleh yang demikian satu kesalahan di bawah