Sessions court judge Osman Affendi Salleh said the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against Chai Kin San, 65, and Wern Teik, 34.

Their lawyer, Jahaberdeen Yunoos, said the trial judge ruled that there was no credible evidence that both had disposed hazardous materials by dumping them into the waterway flowing into Sungai Gong.

“As such, the court acquitted my clients from all the charges,” he told FMT.

On the first count, the duo were alleged to have committed mischief by causing waste products containing hazardous materials from the premises of FG Autoparts Sdn Bhd to be disposed in a waterway that flows into Sungai Gong despite knowing it would cause a water shortage.

They were charged with committing the offence at the company’s premises in Batu Arang, Rawang, between Oct 17 and 19, 2020.

The charge, framed under Section 430 of the Penal Code, provides for imprisonment of up to 30 years, or a fine, or both, if found guilty.

On the second count, the duo was jointly charged with releasing waste containing hazardous material from the same workshop into a waterway that flows into the same river at the same place and time.

The charge was framed under Section 25 (1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, which provides for a maximum fine of RM100,000 or imprisonment for up to five years or both, upon conviction.

It was reported that the pollution has resulted in over a million users in 1,292 areas in the Klang Valley experiencing water disruptions.

The prosecution had called 21 witnesses.

Deputy public prosecutor Khairunnisak Hassni appeared for the prosecution.