KUALA LUMPUR – Two durian growers were among five people who pleaded not guilty for trespassing on the Batu Talam forest reserve at the Raub sessions court today.
The two farmers are Wong Than Fook, 49, and Chiah Kin Seng, 54 while the other three are student Lavin Chiah Zhe Yueng, 21, and Indonesians Kanir, 32, and Shah Ronny Rusly, 45.
According to their lawyer Samantha Chong Yin Xin, all five men were charged under Section 47(1)(c) of the Forestry Act 1984.
The charge sheet revealed that these offences were committed on July 3 and 8 around 10am at the Batu Talam forest reserve at Tras, Raub.
All five men were granted bail.
Chong said Wong owns a piece of land near where the alleged offence took place, and that fact was presented to the judge.
The Save Musang King Alliance (Samka) said Chiah and Lavin are father and son.
Samka added that prosecutor Afidatul Azwa Kamarulanuar requested that the court deny bail, but judge Ahmad Faizahd Yahaya allowed bail at RM3,000 each for the migrants, requiring a local to be a guarantor.
Lavin was granted bail at RM2,000, Chiah at RM3,000, while Wong was awarded bail at RM5,000.
Last year, 204 durian farmers challenged eviction notices at the high court via judicial review, but their applications were dismissed.
Upon challenging the decision, the Court of Appeal granted an interim stay prohibiting any enforcement by authorities.
On July 3, Pahang Forestry Department personnel destroyed 15,000 durian trees at the Batu Talam forest reserve, with Samka contending it is a violation of the court order. – The Vibes, July 28, 2021
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