THE Shah Alam Sessions Court has meted out a maximum fine of RM50,000 to a construction company for failing to ensure the safety and welfare of workers, which resulted in the death of an Indonesian employee.

Judge Rofiyah Mohammad handed out the fine to HAB Construction Sdn Bhd after finding the firm guilty.

She ordered the company, represented by director Haw Wei Sheng, to settle the fine today.

HAB Construction was charged with failing to ensure, as far as is practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all its employees while at work, which resulted in the death of Indonesian man, Matrais, during a tower crane operation.

The 38-year-old worker was crushed when the tower crane fell on him. The incident also left three other workers injured, namely Indonesian Sudami, 50, and Bangladeshi nationals Toffazal Hossain, 41, and Raja Miah, 33.

The incident occurred at a proposed mixed development site at Persiaran Multimedia in Section 7, Shah Alam, Selangor, at 10.30am on January 2, 2018.

The charge was framed under section 15(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and punished under section 19 of the same act, which provides a maximum fine of RM50,000 or jail term of 20 years, or both, upon conviction.

Lawyer Arif Asyraf Mohd Khairi, representing the company, said his client has paid a RM10,000 compensation to the family of the deceased and the expenses of sending the remains back to Indonesia, as well as covered the medical bills of the three injured workers while in hospital. – Bernama, December 27, 2021.