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.