JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested a man after a video of him throwing garbage into a river in Pontian went viral.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said that police were searching for the 52-year-old suspect for five hours before arresting him in Pontian town at around 7pm on Thursday (Sept 29).
“The video depicted the suspect throwing garbage from a bridge at Sungai Wak Rabun Batu 33 in Pontian, which also caught the attention of Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
“Onn Hafiz then contacted me asking for police help in tracking down the suspect. We then immediately searched and found him before bringing him back for further inspection,” he added.
Comm Kamarul said this before taking part in the Johor police motorcycle convoy programme held at the state police headquarters here on Friday (Sept 30).
He added that checks on the suspect found he tested negative for drugs but has a criminal record.
Comm Kamarul Zaman said the suspect worked as a garbage collector collecting waste using a one-tonne lorry from factories around the district.
“Instead of disposing the garbage at the proper dumpsite area, the suspect carried out illegal dumping and threw waste into the river,” he added.
Comm Kamarul Zaman also said the suspect has been released and received a summons under the Road Transport Act 1987.
He also added that the case has also been referred to the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) for further action.
