By DayakDaily Team
SIBU, May 21: The High Court in Sibu today has concluded oral submissions and hearings for two appeal cases on unlawful possession of timber, involving a company based in Sibu and its employees, as well as a trading owner for another case.
According to the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) in a media statement today, both cases involved the detention of vessel and lorry transporting timbers, respectively, in which the company and all accused persons were prosecuted for the offence of unlawful possession of forest produce under section 96 (1) of the Forests Ordinance, 2015 [Cap. 71].
The press release said that the Sarawak government, through FDS and the State Attorney-General’s Chambers, will continue to ramp up the fight against illegal logging and forestry offences.
A spokesperson from FDS stressed that the effort to combat forestry and environmental crime needed close cooperation from the public to be the eyes and ears of the government to channel information on such activities to the authorities, such as report any suspicious activities suggesting forest offences directly to the Regional Forest Offices.
“FDS as a law enforcement agency is doing its statutory duty in the enforcement of the Forests Ordinance without fear or favour,” said the spokesperson.
The series of oral submissions were carried out by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Muhaimin Zakaria of the State Attorney-General’s Chambers and concluded by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Fuad Ahmad together with Adrian Markus Terang of FDS.
All the Respondents for both cases are represented by Jacob Wong together with Jessie Wong of the Messrs. Nawi, Wong & Partners.
The High Court Judge, the Honourable Justice Tuan Wong Siong Tung, then set July 4 for a decision to either uphold the Sessions Court’s earlier decision or reverse the order of discharge and acquittal. — DayakDaily
