SELANGOR REP, 28 OTHERS OUT ON BAIL
Police to hand over probe paper on illegal encroachment to public prosecutor
ASELANGOR assemblyman and 28 people who were detained for allegedly encroaching into the Ulu Jelai forest reserve near here on Sunday have been released on police bail.
District police chief Superintendent Azli Mohd Noor said the group, which included eight women, were released after their statements were recorded early yesterday.
“They are being investigated for crossing state borders without permission and failing to obtain a permit to enter the forest reserve.
“Police are preparing an investigation paper and will forward it to the public prosecutor.
“All of them were released on police bail about 3am today (yesterday),” he said.
Teratai assemblyman Bryan Lai Wai Chong and the group were arrested about 8am on Sunday
at Kampung Rakoh, Pos Lenjang, near Sungai Koyan here, and taken to the Sungai Koyan police station.
Authorities also seized 11 four-wheel-drive vehicles.
They are being investigated under Regulation 17(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2021 (travelling without permit) and Section 47 of the National Forestry Act 1984 for failing to obtain a permit to enter the forest reserve.
Azli said investigations revealed the group had entered the forest reserve on Saturday to provide food to the Orang Asli community.
“However, checks with the district Disaster Operations Control Centre revealed that no permission had been granted.
“When Forestry Department officials and police queried the group in the forest reserve about 1am yesterday (Sunday), they could not provide any valid travel document or permit,” he said.