Heavy fine for polluting environment

RIYADH, 22 January 2003 — An SR500,000 fine will be imposed on companies and factories that cause environmental pollution, said Prince Turki ibn Nasir, head of the Presidency of Meteorology and Environmental Protection. He was speaking to reporters after inspecting environmental destruction caused by an oil slick near Muneefa, 200 kilometers north of Dammam. He warned that the fine would be doubled on repeat-offenders.