Catfish pond operator charged with releasing waste into river

KUALA KUBU BHARU: A catfish pond operator was charged at the Sessions Court here with committing mischief by releasing waste from his premises into Sungai Selangor, causing water supply disruption in the Klang Valley, in December last year.

However, Tan Kim Hong, 61, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read out to him before Judge Nurul Mardhiah Mohammed Redza.

He was alleged to have committed mischief by causing waste products from his catfish pond located in Serendah, Hulu Selangor, to be disposed of into a stream which would then flow into Sungai Selangor, on Dec 7, last year, knowing that it would cause cutbacks of water supply for human consumption.

He was charged under Section 430 of the Penal Code which provides a maximum 30 years’ imprisonment or a fine, or both, if convicted.

Nurul Mardhiah allowed the accused a bail of RM400,000 in one surety and set March 24 for mention.

The court also ordered the accused to surrender his passport to the court and report at the nearest police station on the first of every month as well as not to disturb any prosecution witness until the disposal of the case.

Deputy public prosecutors Mohd Asnawi Abu Hanipah and Ashyraf Ashyari Kamaruzaman prosecuted while Tan was represented by Zulfahami Abu Bakar.

On Dec 24 last year, Bernama reported that a catfish pond operator and his four Indonesian workers were detained on suspicion of causing odour pollution in Sungai Selangor, which halted the operations of the Rantau Panjang and Sungai Selangor Phases 1, 2 and 3 water treatment plants (LRAs) on Dec 7. – Bernama