Singaporean man wanted in Pasir Gudang river pollution case surrenders

SINGAPORE — A Singaporean company director wanted in relation to the pollution of the Kim Kim River in Pasir Gudang last month has surrendered to Johor Police.

According to Malaysian news agency Bernama, the 49-year-old man turned himself in at the Seri Alam district police headquarters on Wednesday (April 24) and is being detained in the police lockup there.

The man has been wanted by the Johor police since March 24.

More than 4,000 people were affected and 111 schools closed after chemical waste was dumped illegally into the Kim Kim River on March 6. Almost 1,000 people were admitted to hospitals while 12 were treated in intensive care units due to the incident, reported The Malaysian Insight.

Two company directors — including another Singaporean — and a lorry driver from a used-tyre processing company have already been charged for their alleged involvement in the chemical dumping at Pasir Gudang.

“Investigation papers have been referred to the office of the Johor State Prosecution Director with a proposal for charges under Section 34B and Section 42 of the Environment Act 1974,” said Johor’s deputy police chief Mohd Kamaruddin Md Din, after the Singaporean man turned himself in on Wednesday.

“Police are waiting for further instruction from the Johor State Prosecution Director’s office,” he added. AGENCIES