JOHOR BARU: Three men have been arrested in connection with the illegal chemical dumping incident in Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang on Thursday.
The three suspects, in their 40s and 50s, were factory owners and a factory worker.
They were arrested in Kulai and Taman Pasir Putih last night and this afternoon.
Johor Department of Environment (DoE) director Datuk Dr Mohammad Ezanni Mat Salleh said one of the suspects, the owner of a chemical processing factory, was arrested in Kulai at 7pm yesterday.
"At about 12.30pm today, we arrested the owner of a recycling factory in Taman Pasir Putih along with one of his employees," Mohammad Ezzani told reporters at a factory belonging to one of the suspects in Pasir Gudang, here.
Also present was state Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee Dr Sahruddin Jamal.
Mohammad Ezzani said the first raid was conducted by DoE and the police after they received a chemistry report on the sample of the substance taken in Sungai Kim Kim.
"After receiving the report, we started to look for factories which process the same chemical identified in the sample and raided the factory in Kulai.
"Based on our checks, the chemicals found in the factory matched the substance that was dumped in Sungai Kim Kim. However, we are still waiting for further tests on the chemicals found at the factory. We have arrested the owner to assist in the investigation," said Mohammad Ezzani.
He said the department also received information regarding another factory and raided it this afternoon.
"During the raid, we found several packages of scheduled chemicals and when we asked one of the suspects, he admitted that it would be disposed off.
"When we asked where it is to be disposed off, he only said 'over there' (depan sana) so we suspect they would dump it in the river tonight," said Mohammad Ezzani.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 34B of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 which carries a jail sentence of not more than five years or a fine of not more than RM500,000 or both, upon conviction.