Company legal manager claims trial to violating Environmental Quality Regulations

KOTA KINABALU: The legal manager of a paper and timber company claimed trial at the Sessions Court here yesterday to three counts of violating the Environmental Quality Regulations.

The man, who was a representative of Sabah Forest Industries Sdn Bhd, appeared before judge Elsie Primus and denied all the charges which were read to him one by one.

On the first count, the company was alleged to have discharged industrial effluent containing parameter biochemical oxygen demand at 20°C with concentration of 249mg/L, which exceeded B standard limits of 50mg/L.

On the second count the company was alleged to have discharged industrial effluent containing parameter suspended solid with concentration of 200mg/L, which exceeded the B standard limits of 100mg/L

Both alleged offences were framed under Regulation 11(1)(b) of the Environmental Quality (Industrial Effluent) Regulations 2009 and punishable under Regulations 32 of the same Regulations.

The indictment provides for a maximum fine of RM100,000 or a jail term of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.

For the third count, the company had allegedly discharged industrial eff luent containing parameter chemical oxygen demand (COD) with concentration of 451mg/L which was beyond the stipulated B Standard limits of 300mg/L.

The alleged offence was under Regulation 12(b) of the Environmental Quality (Industrial Effluent) Regulations 2009 and punishable under Regulations 32 of the same Regulations.

The effluent was released into near water source, allegedly at the company’s premises in Jalan Jeti Sipitang between 10.25am to 1.35pm on March 26, 2015.

The court fixed June 27 for pre-trial case management and allowed the man to be bailed out at RM10,000 in a local surety, pending disposal of the case.