Three Indonesians fined RM15k for smuggling Gaharu wood

KOTA TINGGI: Three Indonesians were fined RM15,000 or in default 15 months jail each after they pleaded guilty to illegally harvesting Gaharu wood.
Hassan, 41, Gomgom Manurung, 33 and Laurensius Molo, 31 committed the offence in Compartment 15 of Mersing reserved forest at 10.15am on May 22 this year.
They were charged under section 84 (1) of the National Forestry Enactment , or same read as Section 34 of Penal Code.
Session court judge Salawati Djambar who imposed the fine also ordered that the suspects be referred to the immigration department to verify their status as to whether they have or do not have valid travel documents.
On another charge, the three accused were also fined RM1,000 each or in default five months jail for entering the Mersing reserved forest without permit from the Forestry department.
They were charged under 47 (1)of National Forestry Enactment , or same read as Section 34 of Penal Code
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Noor Dayana Mohamad while the three accused were represented by their counsel Aziz Shukur.