LAHAD DATU, Jan 3 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Four Indonesians are among five men who have been arrested for alleged involvement in illegal hunting at the Tabin Forest Reserve near here.
Sabah chief conservator of forests Datuk Mashor Jaini said the Sabah Forestry Department’s Special Anti-Poaching Team (Protect) arrested the suspects, aged between 20 and 50, at 12.30am yesterday.
“The four Indonesians are workers of an oil palm plantation next to the forest reserve and the suspected mastermind of the illegal hunting activities. The local man, aged 27, is their customer,” he said in a statement today.
“Protect also seized three carcasses and various parts of wild animals which were ready to be taken out (of the forest reserve),” he added.
He said the case had been handed over to the Sabah Wildlife Department for investigation under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
Mashor advised plantation owners to keep a close watch on their workers to ensure they do not get involved in poaching.
