Sungai Gong pollution suspects released on bail
SHAH ALAM: Four board members and a manager of a heavy machinery repair company charged in connection with the dumping of hazardous materials into Sungai Gong in Rawang have been released onbail of RM400,000 each.
Judicial Commissioner Datuk Norsharidah Awang made the decision after allowing a review application by the four siblings – Yip Kok Wai, 53, Yip Kok Mun, 58, Yip Kok Kuin, 50 and Yip Kok Wong, 60 – as well as the firm’s workshop manager, Ho Voon Leong, 59, against a sessions court’s decision not to allow them bail.
She also ordered the five men to surrender their passports to the court and warned that if they committed any offence during this period, their bail would be withdrawn.
In her judgment, Norsharidah said she took into account factors such as the seriousness of the offence and the health factors of the accused as well as the potential dangers if the offence was repeated.
They face charges under Section 25(1) of the Environmental Quality
Act 1974, which provides a maximum fine of RM100,000, or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
Earlier, lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, who represented all the accused, argued that his clients should be allowed bail as there was no evidence or proof they would flee or harass witnesses.
“We also ask the court to take into account the safety of the accused. All of them, aged 50 and above, were detained at Bentong Prison when there were about 80 prisoners placed in quarantine due to Covid-19,” he said.
He added that there were 20 to 30 people in each cell, making social distancing impossible.
“The accused are also undergoing treatment and taking medication for health problems.”
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Asnawi Abu Hanipah argued that although the court had the discretion to allow the accused bail, it should examine the seriousness of the case, that affected 1.2 million households. – Bernama