Three arrested for timber theft

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Three Malaysians were arrested recently for timber theft and illegal felling in Lumbis subdistrict, Bulungan district, police said yesterday.

The three were employees of a company which subcontracts for Sabah's largest timber company, Log Hwat, police spokesman Lt. Col. Faah Sumarsono of the East Kalimantan Police was quoted by Antara as saying.

The Malaysians were identified as Chin Min Khiang alias Acin, Huong Yan Chin and Rajendran, respectively the manager, assistant manager and foreman of the company, Sarikat Lagi Yakin Sendirian Berhad.

Confiscated from them were three tractors, two logging trucks, a loader, a pickup, a utility car, a cellular phone and 94 logs, Sumarsono said.

This was the second case of wood theft discovered by police in the last four months.

The first also involved a Malaysian national who was caught with eight tractors.

The police discovered more than 10 cases of illegal tree felling last year, he said.