High Court overturns convictions of logging company owner, manager

KOTA KINABALU: The High Court has overturned the convictions of a logging company owner and manager who were previously fined for unlawfully possessing logs. Judge Datuk Alexander Siew How Wai ruled in favor of manager Tiong Chee Khong and owner Yun Ket Chun after their appeals. The judge deemed the convictions against both men unsafe, and their convictions and sentences were dismissed, leading to their acquittal.

The court also ordered that their bail and fines be refunded. On May 16, 2025, the duo had previously been fined a combined RM100,000 for possessing logs without paying royalties. Each was fined RM50,000, totaling eight months in jail, which they had already served. The illegal logging took place at a log storage area in the Sipitang Forest Reserve on February 7, 2020.

They were convicted under Section 30(1)(g) of the Forest Enactment 1968, which carries a maximum penalty of RM500,000, up to five years in prison, or both. The duo had initially faced four charges of illegal logging and unlawful possession of logs in Sipitang on June 21, 2023. Their charges were reduced to three counts of illegally felling 707 logs in Forest Reserves and State land in Sipitang in December 2024, after being acquitted of three other charges.

The appellants were represented by lawyers Aaron Mark Pius and Sabrina Cassandra Lawrence, while Deputy Public Prosecutor Darcia Jane Romanus represented the respondent.