Singapore, 20 November 2023 – A director of a company providing construction and landscape services, Mr Mohammed Ali, and his brother, Mr Imran Hossain, pleaded guilty to illegally disposing construction waste at Neo Tiew Road. The case was concluded in court on 8 November 2023.

2          Investigations by the National Environment Agency (NEA) found that the company was engaged by a restaurant operator, who was renovating a shop in the Chinatown area, to transport dismantled furniture and renovation debris to a recycling facility. However, out of convenience, the brothers discarded the waste at a secluded spot along Neo Tiew Road on 4 October 2022. Refer to Annex A for photos of the waste that was disposed at a secluded spot along Neo Tiew Road.

3          The illegal disposal of waste is a serious offence as it pollutes the environment and can pose a hazard to public health. NEA will not hesitate to take strict enforcement action against any person who disposes of waste illegally. In this case, the brothers, who are first time offenders, were each convicted of one charge under section 20(1)(a) of the Environmental Public Health Act. A first time offender is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both. Repeat offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and to imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and not more than 12 months. They were sentenced to a court fine of $8,000 each.

4          With effect from 1 July 2023, it is also an offence to cause or permit the dumping or disposal of waste in a public place. This will allow NEA to take enforcement action against supervisors who improperly instruct workers to dispose of the waste.

5          Members of the public can assist NEA by submitting reports of suspected illegal disposal electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application. Alternatively, the public may contact NEA at 6225 5632 if they witness any illegal disposal activity. When reporting, it would be helpful if the date, time and location of the incident, registration number of the vehicle used to carry out the illegal disposal, as well as supporting photos and video clips, could be furnished.

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For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.

Annex A

Photos showing dismantled furniture and renovation debris illegally disposed of at a secluded spot along Neo Tiew Road

Photo credit: The National Environment Agency (NEA)