Brunei cracks down on polluters

Brunei cracks down on polluters

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (AFP): Brunei has beefed up laws governing open burning and pollution to check the spread of forest and bush fires raging in the oil-rich sultanate.

The stiffer laws included the introduction of jail sentences and fines for an "unlimited amount", said Brunei's Minister of Law Pengiran Bahrin, who had announced tougher measures Monday to deal with the smoky haze that enveloped the tiny kingdom and forced the closure of schools.

He said those guilty of open burning faced fines of up to 100,000 Brunei dollars (US$62,500) while those who pollute the atmosphere or endanger human life or property face an "unlimited amount" in fines and jail of up to five years under the new Emergency Penal Code.

Previously, people who committed open burning were fined less than $2,000.