Judge Nariman Badruddin meted out the fine on Trimax Metal Sdn Bhd, after its representative, human resources officer Lee Chew Fong, 42, pleaded guilty to three charges.

She fined the company RM14,000, in default four months’ jail, on the first and second charge, and a fine of RM8,000, in default two months’ jail, for the third charge.

On the first count, the company was charged with building a new source of production without submitting a prior written notification to the director-general of the environmental quality department.

The second charge was for causing material change in the quantity of production from an existing source without the approval of the director-general by making changes to aluminium smelting furnace units.

On the third count, the company was charged with breaching an order for Equipment Operation Detention (POK) issued on July 15, 2021 for a fuel combustion device, involving an aluminium smelting furnace and two holding furnaces, suspected of causing air pollution in the area.

All the offences were committed at Jalan TTC 8, Taman Teknologi Cheng, Melaka Tengah, between 11am and 12.20pm on Sept 14, 2021.

An investigation by the department of environment (DoE) found that the company had committed repeated offences by failing to submit a written declaration certificate for the air pollution control system.

DoE prosecution officer Nosora Mohd Jadi prosecuted.

Lee, in mitigation, said she was in the process of closing the company’s operations.