Illegal felling in Forest Reserve: Logging firm, boss fined
Published on: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Published on: Sat, May 17, 2025
By: Cynthia D Baga Text Size: They were convicted under Section 30(1)(g) of the Forest Enactment 1968 and punishable under Section 30(2)(b) of the same Enactment, which provides for a fine of up to RM500,000 or a jail term of up to five years, or both, on conviction. - pix for illustration purposes only Kota Kinabalu: A logging company owner and its manager were fined a total of RM100,000 for having 238 logs for which the royalty was not paid, Friday. Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus meted out the sentence to manager Tiong Chee Khong and owner Yun Ket Chun, both 49, after ruling that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt against them.
Advertisement Each of them was fined RM50,000 or eight months' jail. They paid the fine. The duo were found guilty, without lawful authority or legal right, of having the logs measuring 630.17 cubic meters with unpaid royalty at 10.30am on Feb 7, 2020 in a log storage on the side of the logging road in Occupancy Permit No. JP (SOG) OP.132/2017 in Sipitang Forest Reserve, Sipitang. They were convicted under Section 30(1)(g) of the Forest Enactment 1968 and punishable under Section 30(2)(b) of the same Enactment, which provides for a fine of up to RM500,000 or a jail term of up to five years, or both, on conviction. The prosecution called 12 witnesses while three defence witnesses testified in the hearing.
Advertisement On Dec 18, 2024, the duo were freed from three charges of felling 707 logs illegally in the Forest Reserve and State land in Sipitang without their defence being called. During mitigation, counsel Aaron Mark, who defended the duo, asked for a minimum fine only to be imposed on his clients, saying it was their first offence and level of harm is low as it involved monetary values to the State Government. Aaron further said the logs were rightfully cut and it was not related to damaging environment. However, Forestry Department Prosecuting Officer Peter Jack Empah urged the court to hand down an appropriate and deterrent sentence so as to send a clear message to the public that such offences will not be tolerated. Peter also submitted that the offence committed by the duo not only involves a violation of the law, but also impacts the State Government's revenue in terms of tax collection. 'The unpaid taxes to the State Government amount to approximately RM60,000. Their action of failing to pay taxes to the State Government appears to challenge the authority of the Sabah Forestry Department as the statutory body responsible for forest resource management in Sabah. 'If such actions are not curbed, they will have long-term effects on society and may encourage more individuals to commit similar offences in the future. 'The Sabah Forestry Department regards the offence as extremely serious,' said Peter. The court ordered for the seized logs to be forfeited to the Government through the Forestry Department. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
4 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Man nabbed for drug trafficking in Sibu, meth worth RM12,000 seized
Handout photo shows the packets of drugs seized from the suspect. SIBU (June 6): A police operation along Jalan Hua Kiew here on Thursday led to the arrest of a local man for suspected drug trafficking. Sibu police chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili said the 29-year-old suspect was detained around 1.30pm after he was found in possession of 46 plastic packets containing a substance believed to be methamphetamine. 'The drugs had a gross weight of 60.3 grammes and estimated to be worth RM12,060. 'Also seized from the suspect was a sedan car estimated to be worth RM30,000,' he said in a statement today. Zulkipli said the suspect, who tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine, did not have any prior criminal record. The case, he added, is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for the death sentence or life imprisonment, and not less than 15 strokes of the cane if not sentenced to death. He said police will continue to intensify efforts to combat drug-related activities in Sibu, and urged those with relevant information to contact the district police headquarters' narcotics hotline on 012-2087222. arrest drugs methamphetamine Sibu
Daily Express
6 hours ago
- Daily Express
Unemployed man jailed six years for beating teenage son with stick
Published on: Friday, June 06, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 06, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: A 43-year-old unemployed man was sentenced to six years in jail and fined RM2,000, in default three months' imprisonment, for injuring his teenage son with a wooden stick. Shahmar Asecio pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Marlina Ibrahim to causing hurt to his 16-year-old son at a house in Kampung Baitam Laut, Membakut, on 2 June. Advertisement The court heard Shahmar struck his son on the shoulder, head and right leg while the boy was in the kitchen, and later threatened him with a machete when the mother intervened. The incident led the frightened boy to lodge a police report, and Shahmar was arrested the same day. The judge ordered the sentence to run concurrently with another offence, rejecting Shahmar's plea for leniency after the prosecution called for a deterrent sentence. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
Director faces 10 counts of failing to report bribes involving Penjana claims
KUALA LUMPUR: A consultancy firm director pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to 10 charges of failing to report being offered bribes amounting to RM100,000 to help expedite claims under the Penjana Programme, three years ago. Muhammad Ispandi Othman, 54, was charged with 10 counts of being offered bribes amounting to a total of RM100,000 in cash from a company director through an intermediary to assist in expediting the Penjana Programme claims made by a company to the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso). However, the accused allegedly failed to report the offence to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The offences were allegedly committed at several locations including Jalan Yap Ah Shak, Taman Bukit Maluri, and Bandar Manjalara between Feb 25, 2021 and July 20, 2022. The charges were framed under Section 25(1) of the MACC Act 2009 and are punishable under Section 25(2) of the same Act, which provides for a fine of up to RM100,000 or a maximum jail term of 10 years, or both, upon conviction. Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Selvam T. Armugom proposed bail at RM50,000 for all charges, while defence counsel Nor Azam Rashid Zainol Rashid, representing the accused, appealed for a lower bail amount. Judge Rosli Ahmad allowed the accused to be released on RM50,000 bail in one surety for all charges, with additional conditions that his passport be surrendered to the court and that he must not interfere with prosecution witnesses. The court fixed July 4 for mention of the case.
