JOHOR BARU - A Singaporean company director wanted in connection with the recent chemical pollution in Sungai Kim Kim, near Pasir Gudang, last month has surrendered to the police, Bernama news agency reported on Wednesday (April 24).

Johor Police deputy chief Mohd Kamaruddin Md Din said the 49-year-old man turned himself in at the Seri Alam district police headquarters on Wednesday morning.

The suspect is being detained at the Seri Alam district police lockup, he said.

"Investigation papers have been referred to the office of the Johor State Prosecution Director with a proposal for charges under Section 34B and Section 42 of the Environment Act 1974. Police are waiting for further instruction from the Johor State Prosecution Director's office," he said in a statement here today.

The man was put on the wanted list and the help of Singapore authorities was sought to track him down.

The toxic chemical dumping case in Pasir Gudang led to more than 3,500 people falling ill and forced 111 schools to close last month, triggering an intensive clean-up of the river and inspections on other sites where chemicals had been illegally stored and dumped.

Two directors and a lorry driver have already been charged with being involved in the dumping of chemical waste into Sungai Kim Kim.

The three accused are Singaporean Wang Jin Chao, 34, and Malaysians Yap Yoke Liang, 36, and N. Maridass, 35, the lorry driver.

The trio have pleaded not guilty.