KUANTAN: A trader who took matters into his own hands landed himself in trouble after he was fined RM4,000 by the magistrate's court for chopping down a 50-year-old Yellow Flame tree (Batai Laut) without permission in April this year.
Liau Hai Keong, 55, pleaded guilty after the charge was read out by the court interpreter in front of magistrate Wahidah Zainal Abidin.
The father-of-four was charged with cutting down a tree with a diameter of more than 0.8m within the jurisdiction of the Kuantan City Council without receiving any written consent from the council.
He had allegedly committed the offence at Bandar Indera Mahkota here about 11am on April 21.
Liau had committed an offence under Section 35H of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, which carries a maximum fine of RM10,000, or up to three months' jail, or both.
The city council's prosecuting officer Mohammad Nur Hafiz Ramlan appeared for prosecution, while Liau was represented by Mohd Shuhairi Ziqrul Sapi.
In mitigation, Shuhairi pleaded for a minimum fine, saying that his client had to support his wife and four children with his RM2,000 monthly income.
"The accused has repented and will be careful with his actions in the future. My client has already paid a compound and the civil charges initiated by the Kuantan City Council for his action."
Nur Hafiz told the court that the Batai Laut tree, or scientifically known as Peltophorum pterocarpum, which is more than half a century old, was protected, and placed under the city council's care.
He said the city council spent a huge cost to maintain the heritage tree to ensure it does not decay and the move to cut the tree located along the main road had resulted in an eyesore to passersby.
Wahidah ordered Liau to pay a RM4,000 fine, in default of two months in jail. He paid the fine.
According to the facts of the case, Liau had given instruction to some individuals to cut the tree, which was blocking his business premises.
A video of the tree-cutting incident was shared on Facebook prompting the Kuantan City Council to initiate action.
Caption: Trader Liau Hai Keong outside the Kuantan magistrate's court today.