A foreigner of Thai nationality pleaded guilty over stealing forest produce from the Belum Permanent Forest Reserve in Hulu Perak District earlier this year.
The offender, Alik, 31, pleaded guilty in front of Judge Rohaida Ishak at the Kuala Kangsar Sessions Court yesterday (May 20).
According to facts of the case as detailed by the State Forestry Department, the offender was charged with obtaining forest produce from the forest reserve without possession of a licence, permit or any other authorization documents at 5am on March 13, 2021.
He committed the offence under Section 84(1) of the National Forestry Act (1984) Enactment 1985 which subjects him to punishment entailing a fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
The court ordered for a four-year imprisonment. The case was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor from the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, Mason Jaro Barayan.
Previously, the offender was arrested for encroachment of the forest reserve area. Some 3.55kg of agarwood, two axes, a parang and eight chisels were seized and forfeited to the forestry department.
The raid and arrest was done via an integrated operation by the forestry department along with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and Perak State Parks Corporation.
The forestry department reminded that implementation of the National Forestry Act 1984 (Adoption) Enactment 1985 is constantly ongoing in its patrol and monitoring activities, despite the ongoing Movement Control Order (MCO).
Chris Teh
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