The Sessions Court here on Monday fined a man RM200,000 after finding him guilty of illegally occupying state government land in Kampung Permatang Perawan, Pekan, three years ago.
Judge Azman Mustapha handed down the sentence after ruling that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case involving the accused, Cheong Chin Chong.
The court also ordered the accused to serve 12 months’ imprisonment if he failed to pay the fine and further ordered the forfeiture of two excavators belonging to him to the Pahang state government.
The matter was confirmed in a statement issued to the media on Tuesday.
Based on the facts of the case, the accused was charged under Section 425(1)(a) of the National Land Code for unlawfully occupying state land without approval from the state authorities on August 8, 2023.
Investigations found that the accused had used two excavators to create a road leading to a logging permit area at the location.
He was later detained by enforcement officers from the Pahang State Enforcement Unit (UPNP) while carrying out the activity.
Throughout the trial, which lasted one year and two months beginning in March 2025, the court heard testimonies from nine prosecution witnesses and three defence witnesses.
The prosecution was led by UPNP prosecuting officer Muhammad Taqiuddin Azizan alongside Muhammad Faisal Zaini and Izatul Fairus Loso, while the accused was represented by lawyer Kong Yit Har.
During proceedings, Muhammad Taqiuddin urged the court to impose a heavy and appropriate sentence, arguing that the offence had caused significant damage to the land structure in the area and resulted in losses of revenue to the state government.
He added that the offence carries a maximum penalty of a RM500,000 fine, imprisonment of up to five years, or both, reflecting the seriousness of land encroachment cases in the country.
The accused reportedly failed to settle the fine and was subsequently sent to Penor Prison.
