Kota Kinabalu: A company was fined a total of RM13,000 for two counts of discharging sewage into the inland waters.
Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus meted out the sentence to Tower Paradise Sdn Bhd after its representative pleaded guilty to the charges against the company.
On the first count, the company was fined RM6,000 for discharging sewage from the premises sewage treatment plant into inland waters between 10.15am and 10.30am on March 23, 2022 at the Condominium [email protected] which belonged to the company.
The charge stated that the sewage containing parameter of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) with concentration of 190mg/L exceeded the stipulated limits which was 50mg/L.
On the second, the company was fined RM7,000 for discharging sewage containing Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) parameter with concentration of 500mg/L exceeded the stipulated limit which was 200mg/L, at the same place and time.
The offence under Regulations 7(1)(b) of the Environmental Quality (sewage) 2009 carries a jail term of up to five years, or a fine of up to RM100,000, or both, on conviction.
During mitigation, the company through its counsel Chris Thian Vun Khong, asked for leniency.
However, Prosecuting Officer Jissammy Jimmy from the Environmental Department, urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence on the grounds that it involved the public interest as the company had discharged sewage which caused pollution to the environment.
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