Director Pleads Not Guilty

Director Pleads Not Guilty

PETALING JAYA: The director of construction company CW Yap Sdn Bhd has been charged with failing to ensure the safety of others in connection with the collapse of the Jaya Supermarket last year.

Yap Choon Wai, 54, pleaded not guilty to the offence at a Sessions Court here yesterday.

The supermarket, a famous landmark in Petaling Jaya, collapsed during demolition work and seven people were killed on May 28 last year.

Yap was charged in his capacity as the company director and an employer, for failing to ensure that non-employees, namely four workers and three civilians, were not exposed to safety and health risks.

The four workers were identified as A. Suki Nahru, a 54-year-old Malaysian, and Indonesians Mukhamad Maskur, Fendi and Anwarudin. The three civilians were Rouf, Fauzan and Maddekip.

Yap was accused of failing to comply with the work safety system provided in demolition works for buildings.

The alleged offence was committed on May 28 last year at about 5pm at the site of the proposed project to demolish the building at Jalan Semangat.

Sessions Court Judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz granted Yap bail of RM5,000 with one surety.

The judge fixed Oct 27 for the case to be mentioned.

She also allowed for Yap’s case to be mentioned together with two previous cases which were related to the charge.

Last Tuesday, two construction companies, including Yap’s, were charged in separate Sessions Courts with failing to ensure the safety of others.

Yap and Jason Hee Kok Hing, of Lian Hup Earth Work and Construction Sdn Bhd, appeared on behalf of their companies and pleaded not guilty to the offences.

Yap was charged under Section 17(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 which is punishable under Section 19 of the same Act.

Those convicted under this section could be fined up to RM50,000 or jailed for a term not exceeding two years or both.

Yap was represented by defence counsel Goh Keng Tat while Deputy Public Prosecutor Aida Farihan Mohd Nawi prosecuted.

By Yuen Meikeng
From The Star Online 28 September 2010