KOTA KINABALU: The Sessions Court today fined two companies for neglecting safety aspects, resulting in the deaths of their workers.
The companies were SLDB Management Sdn Bhd and Englen Manufacturing Sdn Bhd.
The fatal incident involving SLDB concerned its Indonesian employee, Cahya Abdullah, who died on May 25, 2021 at 4.20pm at Ladang Bombong 1, Kampung Bombong in Kota Marudu.
Cahya died after falling from unsafe transportation at the workplace. The transport was a trailer mounted on a tractor and deemed unsuitable for carrying workers.
An SLDB representative in the court today pleaded guilty to the charge, after which judge Elsie Primus ordered the company to pay a RM15,000 fine in default of a warrant of levy being issued to the company.
SLDB was also told to pay a RM5,000 compensation to the victim's next-of-kin by April 14 this year.
The offence under Section 15(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 provides for a fine of up to RM50,000, or a jail term of up to two years, or both, upon conviction.
The court set April 22 for mention pending the production of the acknowledgement receipt for the compensation.
Prosecuting officer Elisa Eligius Samuel from the Occupational Safety and Health Department prosecuted.
Meanwhile, Englen Manufacturing was fined RM20,000 or three months' jail by Sessions Court judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim after its representative admitted to the charge.
The company was charged with failing to ensure the safety of its worker, Bonnie Roger, who was involved in a fatal accident on May 15, 2021 at 1.40pm at Industrial Zone 7-Ph1, in Jalan Norowot 2B, KKIP Timur, here.
The charge stated that the incident occurred due to an unsafe work procedure involving a welding machine.
The victim died at the hospital.
In court, the company's representative asked for leniency, informing the court that the company had paid RM3,000 to the victim's family.
In reply, the prosecution asked for an adequate sentence to be imposed on the company to ensure other companies will view aspects of health and safety management more seriously.