Raub durian farmers released on police bail

 

Remanded by the authorities yesterday, 18 durian farmers from Raub, Pahang have been released this morning on police bail.

The farmers' family members were told by an investigation officer at midnight that they could bail out the farmers this morning, said the secretariat of the Save Musang King Alliance (Samka).

The secretariat confirmed that all the detained farmers were released from the Raub police headquarters before 11am.

On a Facebook live video hosted by Samka, the farmers' lawyer Chan Yen Hui said the farmers will have to report to either a court or the police station on Oct 4, adding that if they fail to do so, their guarantor will be fined RM10,000.

She also said that despite the magistrate allowing for a two-day remand, the farmers were released today after the police finished recording their statements.

DAP Legal Bureau chief Ramkarpal Singh was also at the police station to provide legal assistance to the durian farmers.

During the live broadcast, Ramkarpal said the farmers cooperated well with the police during the investigation.

Hence, he said there is no reason for the remand to be continued.

“We are happy with this development. We will liaise with our clients on what should be the next course to be taken,” said the Bukit Gelugor MP.

He added that a revision application of the remand order issued by the Raub magistrate yesterday will be withdrawn since all the farmers were released today.

Bilut assemblyperson Lee Chin Chen and Tras assemblyperson Chow Yu Hui were also at the police station.

Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, in a statement yesterday said this issue concerns the livelihood of the durian farmers who have been working the land there for decades.

"The Pahang state government should try to resolve the problem amicably between the large private company and the farmers,” he said.

Yesterday, the court granted a two-day remand order against 18 durian farmers, including a 17-year-old teenager, to facilitate the Forestry Department's investigations into an alleged trespassing offence.

The Pahang state government has accused them of illegal farming and is attempting to evict them as the state has leased the land to a firm that is planning its own durian plantation there.

The firm, Royal Pahang Durian Resources-PKPP Sdn Bhd (RPDR-PKPP), is a joint venture between the state government and a company linked to the Pahang royalty.

The latest flare-up started when the farmers tried to harvest their produce on the disputed land but were blocked by the Forestry Department and police. - Mkini