JOHOR BARU: A Singaporean company director wanted in connection with the chemical pollution in Sungai Kim Kim near Pasir Gudang last month has surrendered to police.
According to Bernama, Johor deputy police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Kamaruddin Md Din said the 49-year-old man turned himself in at the Seri Alam district police headquarters at 11.17am yesterday.
The suspect is being detained at the Seri Alam district police lock-up, he said.
“Investigation papers have been referred to the office of the Johor state prosecution director with a proposal for charges under the Environment Act 1974. Police are waiting for further instruction from the prosecution director’s office,” he said in a statement.
Police had sought the assistance of Interpol and their Singapore counterparts to track down the man in connection with the toxic waste pollution.
So far, 11 people had been detained for questioning and three were charged in court on March 24 under Section 34B(1)(A) of the Environment Quality Act 1974.
The three accused are Singaporean Wang Jin Chao, 34, and Malaysians Yap Yoke Liang, 36, and lorry driver N. Maridass, 35.
According to the charge sheet, Maridass is accused of illegally disposing chemicals into Sungai Kim Kim on March 7, while Wang and Yap are accused of conspiring with him.
Yap and Wang were also charged under Section 42 of the same Act.
If convicted, they could be jailed up to five years and fined a maximum of RM500,000.
Last month, the chemical dump in Sungai Kim Kim affected the health of thousands of people, including students, forcing the state government to close 111 schools near the affected areas.
A total of 5,848 children and adults have been treated at clinics and hospitals since March 8 due to the toxic waste pollution.
Seventy police reports have been filed by the affected families.
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