Corpun file 17687

Borneo Bulletin, Bandar Seri Begawan, 19 May 2006

Jail, cane for overstaying foreigner

By Rol Ezam

The Bandar Magistrate's Court yesterday sentenced a 23-year-old Indian man to three months and two weeks imprisonment and three strokes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to remaining in Brunei Darussalam unlawfully.

The defendant, Muthiah Madasamy was found to have illegally remained in this country for 137 days after the expiry of his Special Pass on December 31, 2005.

He was arrested two days ago by officers from the Enforcement Section of the Immigration Department at a house in Kampong Salambigar.

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Corpun file 17703

Borneo Bulletin, Bandar Seri Begawan, 26 May 2006

Three M'sians get nine months & cane for cutting trees

By Malai FadleyRizal

Three Malaysian men were each sentenced to jail for nine months with five strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to cutting trees in a forest reserve, committing mischief and Immigration offences, before the Kuala Belait Magistrates' Court earlier this week.

Padan Laput, Henrick Danor and Satar Abd Rashid pleaded guilty to cutting trees on a State land without a licence issued by a Forestry officer at Ulu Sungai Bang Kidan, Kg Buau in Kuala Belait, between April and May 6, this year.

A second charge stated that all three defendants committed mischief by clearing more than 108 trees at the said area in order to make a camp and had caused a loss to the Government of Brunei Darussalam.

In addition, Padan, Henrick and Satar each faced a charge of entering the country without possession of a valid pass, and admitted to them all.

According to DPP Noradinah Ramlee, the defendants were arrested on May 6 by the Belait Forest Police Unit in the middle of the forest reserve where the defendants had camped.

Apparatus were also found that were believed to be used for the cutting of the trees and collecting 'Kayu Gaharu'.

However, another person named Abai who had guided the defendants to enter the forest reserve through Kg Medamit was not at the camp at the time of arrest, and is still at large.