01/12/2012 (The Star) - An oil palm company in Naman, Durin was fined RM13,000 by the Sessions Court here for polluting the environment with effluent.

Manis Oil Sdn Bhd committed the offence at 11.20am on Feb 15 when it was found discharging effluent into a nearby watercourse.

The effluent contained concentration of substances exceeding the stipulated limits under Regulation 12 (4) Environmental Quality (Prescribed Premises) (Crude Palm Oil) Regulations 1977, namely on two items.

The concentration of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) was 36 mg/l exceeding the limit of 20mg/l, and its concentration of suspended solids was 161.5 mg/l which exceeded the limit of 100mg/l.

The court was told yesterday that the company contravened condition No. 2.1.6 (I) and (ii) of the Compliance Schedule thereby committing an offence under Section 16 (1) of the Environment Quality Act 1974. This is punishable under Section 16 (2) of the same Act.

The offence carries a fine not exceeding RM25,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or both.

It would be fined RM1,000 for everyday that the offence is continued following notice by the director-general requiring it to comply with such term of condition specified therein.

The prosecuting officer asked the court to impose the heaviest penalty on the company as the offence was not its first.

It had been served with five notices directing it to comply with the Act. However, the company remained defiant.

A representative of the company asked the court, which was presided over by Jason Jugah, for a lenient sentence as the company was trying to look into the issue when notices were served on it.