(Miri, 28th) Two Penan men from Long Tepen, facing charges of trespassing and obstructing official duties brought by the Sarawak Forestry Department, pleaded not guilty in the Miri Magistrate's Court recently, insisting that the charges are baseless.
According to a joint press statement issued by NGOs Keruan and the Bruno Manser Fund, the two accused, aged 52 and 57, are charged under Section 26 of the Forests Ordinance 2015 for allegedly trespassing into the Telang Usan Protected Forest (TUPF). Among them, the 52-year-old man faces an additional charge of obstructing public officers under Section 103(1) of the same ordinance.
The two charges were read out before Magistrate Afidah Abdul Rahman on Wednesday, November 26, with both defendants represented by lawyer Roland Engan.
In court, both men denied committing any crimes, stating that they were only stopping by the roadside to seek phone signal when they were approached by enforcement officers.
According to reports, the 52-year-old defendant said: 'We were just chatting and resting by the roadside when the officers came up to us. I did not do anything as accused.' He also denied ever obstructing any public officer.
The two Penan men were earlier detained by Miri Forestry Department enforcement officers at the same location on June 28 for the alleged incident.
This case has raised significant community attention, with more than 30 Penan representatives specially traveling to Miri to show their support for the two accused outside the court on the trial day.
The court has scheduled case management for March 4, 2026, and the official hearing dates are set for December 14 to 16, 2026.
According to a joint press statement issued by NGOs Keruan and the Bruno Manser Fund, the two accused, aged 52 and 57, are charged under Section 26 of the Forests Ordinance 2015 for allegedly trespassing into the Telang Usan Protected Forest (TUPF). Among them, the 52-year-old man faces an additional charge of obstructing public officers under Section 103(1) of the same ordinance.
In court, both men denied committing any crimes, stating that they were only stopping by the roadside to seek phone signal when they were approached by enforcement officers.
According to reports, the 52-year-old defendant said: 'We were just chatting and resting by the roadside when the officers came up to us. I did not do anything as accused.' He also denied ever obstructing any public officer.
The two Penan men were earlier detained by Miri Forestry Department enforcement officers at the same location on June 28 for the alleged incident.
This case has raised significant community attention, with more than 30 Penan representatives specially traveling to Miri to show their support for the two accused outside the court on the trial day.
The court has scheduled case management for March 4, 2026, and the official hearing dates are set for December 14 to 16, 2026.