SHAH ALAM, Sept 22 — Four board members and a manager of a heavy machinery repair company charged in connection with the dumping of hazardous materials into Sungai Gong, Rawang, were released on RM400,000 bail each with one surety by the High Court here today.
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Judicial Commissioner Datuk Norsharidah Awang made the decision after allowing the review application of the four board members who are also siblings – Yip Kok Wai, 53; Yip Kok Mun, 58; Yip Kok Kuin, 50, and Yip Kok Wong, 60; as well as the workshop manager, Ho Voon Leong, 59, against the Sessions Court’s decision not to allow them bail.
She also ordered the five men to hand over their passports to the court and warned that if they committed any offence during the bail period, the court would withdraw the bail.
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 dangers that await if the offence is repeated.
“This is a serious case that has received a lot of attention, therefore, the court ordered the accused to be released on RM400,000 bail each with one surety, besides the additional condition that all the accused have to surrender their passports to the court, and if any offence is committed during the bail period, the court will withdraw the bail,” she said.
On Sept 17, the accused had filed an application to review the decision made by Selayang Sessions Court Judge, Syafeera Mohd Said.
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Two days earlier, they had pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to two charges read against them.
On the first count, the five were charged with committing mischief by causing hazardous waste to flow from their workshop, Yip Chee Seng & Sons Sdn Bhd into Sungai Gong knowing that it would cause a diminution of water supply for human consumption.
They allegedly committing the offence at the workshop premises in Kampung Sungai Dua, Rawang near here between Sept 2 and 3. The offence under Section 430 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of between five and 30 years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
According to the second charge, they were jointly accused of releasing waste containing harmful substances from the same workshop into a waterway which would flow into the same river without a license, at the same place and time.
On the second count, they were accused of discharging hazardous waste from the same workshop which streamed down into Sungai Gong without a licence, at the same place and time.
— BERNAMA