JOHOR BARU: A lorry driver has been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and fined RM100,000 by the Sessions Court here for illegal dumping.
S. Ganesan, 51, pleaded guilty to four charges under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 before Judge Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim on Thursday (Jan 29).
He admitted to driving a trailer lorry to collect and release waste code SW 322 onto a drain without a valid licence and approval from the Environmental Quality director-general.
He was also charged with polluting the land due to his actions.
Waste code SW322 refers to "waste of non-halogenated organic solvents", which falls under the broader category of hazardous waste and requires specific handling and disposal procedures.
Ganesan was accused of committing the offence under a bridge in Jalan Kampung Maju Jaya in Mukim Tebrau on Nov 4, 2023.
The charges were framed under Section 18(1A), Section 24(1), Section 25(1) and Section 34B(1)(a) of the Act.
The court ordered Ganesan to serve a jail term of three months starting from Thursday and pay a fine of RM100,000 in default two months’ imprisonment.
The court also ordered the seized lorry to be forfeited and handed over to the government.
Meanwhile, Johor Environment Department director Dr Mohd Famey Yusoff reminded industry players and the public to adhere to the law when disposing of waste.
“Failure to comply with the Environmental Quality Act 1974 will result in legal action towards the individual offender, company and also company director,” he said.
He urged the public to report pollution activities via the 24-hour toll-free hotline 1-800-88-2727, email to aduan_k@doe.gov.my or through the department’s complaints portal at https://eaduan.doe.gov.my.
