By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Feb 19: A departmental store owner was today fined a total of RM10,000 in two Magistrate’s Courts for not complying with fire safety regulations.
The fines were imposed after he pleaded guilty to a total of five charges relating to his store at 10th Mile Commercial Centre in 2016.
In the first two charges under Section 2(d) of the Fire Services Act 1998, the store proprietor admitted to failing to install door closers on fire-resistant doors at both the male and female hostels.
For these violations, Magistrate Zubaidah Sharkawi fined him RM2,500 and RM3,000, respectively.
The remaining three charges, under Section 10 of the same Act, were for the failure to install hose reels, manual break glass and automatic fire detectors on the ground, first and second floors of the premises.
For these violations, Magistrate Mohd Syukri Mokhtar fined the owner RM1,000, RM1,500 and RM2,000, respectively.
According to the facts of the case, the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) inspected the departmental store on Feb 12, 2016, and discovered that the store had flouted the law. On Feb 29 that year, Bomba issued a 30-day notice to the departmental store to make the necessary rectifications.
Bomba dragged the store owner to court after they went back to inspect the premises on Dec 16, 2016.
Prosecuting officer Thomas Umpang Julong prosecuted, while the store owner was not represented. — DayakDaily
