SIPITANG: The Forestry Department detained about 1,700 logs estimated worth RM1 million which are suspected to have been felled illegally near a forest reserve at Long Mio, here, Wednesday.
Chief Conservator of Forest, Datuk Mashor Mohd Jaini said this is to facilitate investigations into a complaint received on Feb. 4 about alleged encroachment into the Sabah Forest Industry (SFI) Sdn Bhd concession area.
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“The department’s Special Enforcement Unit detected the logs during an air surveillance using a helicopter,” he said, adding the Unit then alerted the Protect Unit which conducted a raid.
Mashor said checks found the logs placed at several different locations and the ones behind the activity, which contravened Forestry Enactment 1968, had been identified.
He said the department has identified the company and is tracking them down.
“This case will be investigated under Section 20 of the Forestry Enactment 1968. If found guilty, the offenders are liable to be fined not more than RM500,000 and jailed not least than one year and not more than 20 years,” he said.
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Warning all logging operators and land owners who are doing clearing of an area to not take this lightly, Mashor said the offence is very serious and the department would not compromise with those responsible.
