A vegetable farmer was fined RM80,000 by the Raub Sessions Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to clearing Pahang state government land without valid permission in Pos Terisu, Mukim Ulu Telom, Cameron Highlands, last year.
Judge Noor Zaihan Mohamad Ali handed down the sentence after the accused, R Sathis, 29, admitted to the charge during proceedings.
The court also ordered Sathis to serve eight months in prison if he fails to pay the fine.
Based on the charge, Sathis was accused of using an excavator to clear about 0.101 hectares of state government land for agricultural purposes without approval from the state authorities.
The offence was committed at Pos Terisu, Mukim Ulu Telom, Cameron Highlands at about 6.30pm on January 14, 2025, and was prosecuted under Section 425(1)(b) of the National Land Code (Act 828).
The provision carries a maximum fine of up to RM500,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
The court also has the power to order the forfeiture of equipment used to commit the offence under Section 426C(3) of the same Act.
According to the facts of the case, the illegal land clearing activity was detected after the Cameron Highlands Transformation Taskforce (TTF) submitted a complaint along with video evidence of the alleged encroachment.
A raid was subsequently carried out by the Pahang State Enforcement Unit (UPNP) led by Western Pahang Zone Operations Chief Mohd Ammar Syamim Kassim together with enforcement officers.
During the operation, authorities found the cleared area at Pos Terisu and discovered a Kubota U30-6S excavator believed to have been used for the activity.
Sathis, who arrived at the location, admitted that he was the operator responsible for clearing the land but failed to provide any permit or approval for the work.
The excavator was seized under Section 426A(5) of the National Land Code, with checks revealing that the machine belonged to a company under Sathis’ management.
A review by the Cameron Highlands District and Land Office dated June 18, 2025, confirmed that the cleared area was located on Pahang state government land and no approval had been granted for the activity.
The court also ordered the seized excavator to be forfeited to the Pahang state government through the prosecution.
