Two companies were today fined a total of RM140,000 by the Sessions Court here for offences under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

Judge Amran Jantan imposed a fine of RM110,000 on AEON Co (M) Bhd, which was represented by its bakery manager, Mohd Ridzuan Cheah Abdullah, after pleading guilty to four charges which were fined RM20,000; RM25,000; RM30,000; and RM35,000 respectively.

The company was alleged to have committed profiteering by increasing the sale price from RM1.20 to RM1.50 which raised the net profit margin for the almond muffin bread, vanilla muffin bread, chocolate chips muffin bread and blueberry muffin bread.

According to the charge, the company committed all the offences at its bakery shop, La Boheme, AEON Melaka Store, 1st Floor, Jalan Tun Razak here at 6.01pm on March 17.

As such, the company was charged under Section 14 (1) of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 which provides for a maximum fine of RM500,000 and for the second and subsequent offences the offender could be fined not more than RM1 million.

In the same court, Amran imposed a fine of RM30,000 on AEON Fantasy (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, which was represented by its consultant, Norsiah Ahmad after the company pleaded guilty to a charge under the Act.

The company was alleged to have failed to comply with the directive of the Assistant Price Controller issued under Section 21(2) of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 within the time stipulated, i.e. on before last Feb 13.

According to the charge, the company had committed the offence at the premises of AEON Fantasy (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Jusco Bandaraya Melaka here, on Feb 14.

As such, the company was charged under Section 57 of the Price Control an Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 which provides for a fine of not more than RM100,000 and for the second and subsequent offences the fine would not exceed RM250,000.