Manjit Kaur The Star 12 Oct 12;
TAPAH: Standing tall with their traditional headgear, a group of Semais erupted with joy outside a courtroom when they heard that four orang asli had been freed over the killing of a tiger.
They were thrilled to know that the magistrate’s court acquitted and discharged Yok Mat Bah Chong, 48, Yok Rayau Yok Senian, 50, Yok Kalong Bah Papee, 51, and Hassan Bah Ong, 33, over the death of the tiger in Bukit Tapah Forest Reserve two years ago.
Magistrate Fairuz Adiba Ismail said the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against the four men who hailed from different villages in Sungkai.
To show moral support to their counterparts, a group of about 30 orang asli from the Semai tribe gathered outside the courtroom since 8am and waited two-and-a-half hours for the good news.
The orang asli came from three villages in Sungkai – Kg Gamus, Pos Jernang and Kg Ras.
The four accused were earlier said to have used a shotgun and shot the tiger in the forest reserve near Sungkai on Feb 4, 2010, between 8am and 1pm.
They were charged under Section 64A of the Wildlife Protection Act which makes offenders liable to a RM15,000 fine or five years jail upon conviction.
Met outside the courtroom yesterday, Yok Mat said he was relieved over the outcome of the case.
“We were merely trying to save our friend Yok Meneh Yok Din who was being attacked by the tiger while collecting produce at the forest.”
“I am happy that I will no longer have to deal with sleepless nights over the case. I will now be able to have a peaceful life with my wife and five children,” he added.
Yok Meneh, 49, who was injured during the attack, was also present yesterday.
Initially, the four men were not represented until lawyers Augustine Anthony and Amani Williams-Hunt Abdullah decided to take on the case on a pro-bono basis.
During the oral submission, Augustine said there had been contradictions in the evidence produced in court.
For example, he said the make of the shotgun reported in the ballistic report had differed from the one seized from the orang asli.
Furthermore, a Veterinary Services Department officer had told the court that she was the one who performed the post-mortem on the carcass of the tiger but an earlier report indicated that Wildlife Department officers had carried out the examination.
“The most crucial point is – how can the four be charged with killing the tiger and not be charged for a more serious offence of unlawfully possessing firearms?” he asked.
“Thus, the four should be acquitted,” he added.
