KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) Sdn Bhd was slapped with a RM110,000 fine for discharging fuel into the sea three years ago.

Sessions Court judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad ordered the company to pay the fine after its representative pleaded guilty at the court here on Monday (July 16).

According to the facts of the case, SFI Sdn Bhd had discharged fuel oil from a marine fuel oil shore tank into Brunei Bay waters at about 9.40am on Aug 10, 2015.

The company had also discharged the oil without a license from the Environmental Quality director-general, as required under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (EQA) .

SFI Sdn Bhd had committed the environmental offence at its own premises at Kompleks SFI, Jalan Jeti in Sipitang district some 140km from here.

The offence under the EQA carries a maximum five months’ jail, or fine up to RM500,000, or both, upon conviction.

Prosecuting officer Hashim Awang from the Environmental Department prosecuted.