Polluter fined in landmark lawsuit

A company providing painting and welding services in Beijing has been fined 890,000 yuan ($138,900) and ordered to publicly apologize for causing air pollution.

Duocai Lianyi Co has also been banned from carrying out painting and welding work until it meets environmental protection standards or proves it has taken effective measures toward that goal, the capital's No 4 Intermediate People's Court said in its verdict.

In addition, the company must also pay 33,000 yuan for an environmental impact assessment, it said.