By Dorcas Ting
BINTULU, Sept 6: Twelve individuals were brought before the Sessions Court here today, facing charges related to the illegal collection and possession of logs at a sawmill near Kemena Bridge.
The charges, filed by the Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPS), allege that the accused were caught transporting and unloading 374 logs at the sawmill belonging to two companies on July 25, 2024, at around 11.00pm.
Among the 12 accused were directors of the sawmill licensee and owners of the land conveyances used in the operation.
All pleaded not guilty to the charges under Sections 90(1), 95(1), and 96(1) of the Forest Ordinance 2015 (Chapter 71), which are punishable under the same Ordinance.
The charges are also read in conjunction with Sections 79, 97, 98, and 99 of the same Ordinance, alongside Section 34 of the Penal Code (Act 593).
The accused face penalties of fines between RM25,000 and RM150,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
In addition, they may be required to pay a sum amounting to ten times the value of the seized logs to the government.
The defendants were represented by lawyer Hasnah Saini. Prosecutors for the case included Deputy Public Prosecutor Ronald Felix Hardin from the Sarawak State Attorney General’s Chambers, along with prosecuting officers Johny Ikau and Paddril Peter.
Judge Leo Saga set bail at RM6,000 for each of the accused, with two local sureties, and imposed additional conditions, including mandatory monthly reporting to the nearest police station. The next court mention is scheduled for Oct 30/
In a related case, Magistrate Zuraini Ali Musa approved the UKPS application for the forfeiture and disposal of seized timber logs.
These logs, along with several land conveyances, were confiscated from the Kemena industrial area and a logpond in Semarakan, Bintulu.
As no claims were made for the timber, the forfeiture process will proceed. — DayakDaily
