THE trial of four board members and a manager of a heavy machinery workshop charged with polluting Sg Gong in Rawang, will commence on June 2 at the Selayang Sessions Court.

Deputy public prosecutor Siti Rohaida Che Hamid said judge Maziah Joary Mohd Tajudin set six days for the trial when the case came up for mention today. The dates are June 2, 3, 9, 10, 17 and 22.

The four directors charged are brothers Yip Kok Wai, 54, Kok Mun, 59, Kok Kuin, 51, and Kok Wong, 61, while the workshop manager is Ho Voon Leong, 60.

“The prosecution has submitted the documents pertaining to the case to the defence team, and we will call more than 20 witnesses to testify,” she said when met outside the court.

Counsel M. Redza Hassan, who represented all the accused, confirmed the matter.

On the first count, they were charged under Section 430 of the Penal Code with committing mischief by causing hazardous substances from their workshop Yip Chee Seng & Sons Sdn Bhd to flow into Sg Gong, hence causing a diminution of water supply for human consumption.

They were charged with committing the act at the workshop at Kg Sg Dua, Rawang, between September 2 and 3, 2020. 

They are facing a maximum 30 years’ jail, a fine, or both.

The five men were also jointly charged with emitting environmentally hazardous substances from the workshop into a waterway, which then flowed into Sg Gong, without a licence at the same place and time.

The charge under Section 25(1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 carries a maximum RM100,000 fine, maximum five years’ jail, or both.

In a separate case, the court also fixed February 25 for mention of a case involving contractor, R. Nathan, 43, and a company director, Lim Kian Aik, 43, who were charged with committing sabotage on water services in Selangor under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act.  

Deputy public prosecutor Ashyraf Ashyari Kamaruzaman said the prosecution will apply to transfer the case to the high court.

They were charged with intentionally committing sabotage to disrupt water services in Selangor at 32, Jalan Velox 2, Taman Velox, Rawang, Gombak here between November 2 and 10.

The charge was framed under Section 124K of the Penal Code, which carries life imprisonment.

The two men also face five other charges under the Environmental Quality Act and the Water Services Industry Act. – Bernama, February 2, 2021.