Kota Kinabalu: A logging company owner and its manager who were charged with three counts of felling 707 logs illegally in forest reserves and State land and one count of having 274 logs for which royalties were not paid, will go trial on March 4-8.
Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus set the date for manager Tiong Chee Khong and owner Yun Ket Chun, both 49, whose cases were brought up for pre-trial case management on Thursday.
All the remaining documents had been served to Tiong and Yun.
The court also fixed Sept 27 for further mention to monitor the status of the representation letter by the defence.
On the first count, Tiong and Yun are accused of felling 127 logs without being expressly authorised under the Forest Enactment 1968 in the Ulu Sungai Padas Forest Reserve in Sipitang between July 17, 2019 and Feb 4, 2020.
On the second count, they allegedly felled 76 logs without being expressly authorised under the Forest Enactment 1968 in the Sipitang Forest Reserve, also between July 17, 2019 and Feb 4, 2020.
On the third count, Tiong and Yun were accused of felling 504 logs illegally on State land near Kg Long Pasia, Sipitang, also between July 17, 2019 and Feb 4, 2020.On the fourth count, the duo allegedly had without lawful authority or legal rights to 274 logs with a volume of 709.20 cubic meters, that had not been paid royalties at 10.30am on Feb 7, 2020 in log storage on the side of the logging road in Occupancy Permit No. JP(SOG)OP.132/2017 in Sipitang Forest Reserve.
The first and second counts were framed under Section 20(2) of the Forest Enactment 1968 while the third under Section 23(2) of the same Enactment. Each provides for a fine of up to RM500,000 and a jail term of between one year and 20 years, on conviction.
The fourth charge is 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.
Forestry Department prosecuting officer Peter Jack Empah appeared for the prosecution while counsel Aaron Mark Pius together with counsel Chin Kok Seun defended the duo.
