KUALA LUMPUR (May 22): The Sessions Court in Selayang had on Monday (May 22) acquitted a father and a son, who are directors of a company repairing heavy machinery, of a charge of polluting Sungai Gong in Rawang, almost three years ago on October 2020.

Sessions Court judge Osman Affendi Mohd Salleh ruled that there is no credible evidence to show the two had allegedly disposed of or thrown dangerous material into the drainage leading into Sungai Gong.

In fact, Osman Affendi ruled that the accused had not thrown anything into the drainage leading to Sungai Gong.

“The court orders that both the accused are acquitted and discharged without their defence being called,” Osman Affendi said.

The acquittal was confirmed by their counsel Datuk Seri Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos to The Edge. Deputy public prosecutor Khairunnisak Hassni appeared for the prosecution.

Chai Kin Sang, 64, and his son Chai Wern Teik were charged under Section 430 of the Penal Code and Section 25(1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, with committing mischief and also releasing effluents containing dangerous material at FG Autoparts Sdn Bhd into Sungai Gong between Oct 17 and 19, 2020 at Lot 16273, Jalan Sungai Bakar-Batu Arang Gombak.

The duo had allegedly caused the water pollution that resulted in foul odour and causing water supply disruption in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor and Gombak as a result of the Rantau Panjang water treatment plant.

A total of 21 witnesses testified for the prosecution.