THE Sandakan Sessions Court today acquitted two logging companies on a charge of illegal logging in a forest reserve in Tongod from 2016 to 2017.

Judge Darmafikri Abu Adam, in his judgment after the defence wrapped up its arguments, said the court found the two companies, Maxwell Sdn Bhd and Better Green Sdn Bhd, had succeeded in raising reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case and therefore, acquitted and discharged both the companies.

On January 20, 2020, Maxwell Sdn Bhd, represented by its director Wong Shu Kiew, and Better Green, represented by its director Cheung Chau Seng, pleaded not guilty to illegal felling of 503 trees at the Trus Madi Forest Reserve in Tongod between September 5, 2016, and November 19, 2017.

The charge, framed under section 20(2) of the Sabah Forest Enactment 1968, provides a jail term of between a year and 20 years, and a fine of up to RM500,000.

The two representatives also claimed trial to a charge framed under section 23(2) of the same enactment, with illegal felling of 54 trees at Kampung Lalampas, Tongod, between September 5, 2016 and November 19, 2017.

Eleven witnesses were called to testify in the hearing, which began in March 2020, and the defence trial taking place in January this year, with four witnesses called to testify.

Sabah Forestry Department prosecuting officer Peter Maurice Lidadun prosecuted, while both the companies were represented by counsel Ronny Cham. – Bernama, March 1, 2022.