Vietnamese punished for chopping down gaharu – a first in Penang

BUTTERWORTH: A 23-year-old Vietnamese was sentenced to six years' jail and fined RM200,000 in default six months' jail for felling gaharu (agarwood) trees at the Forest Reserve in Nibong Tebal last month a first in Penang.

Nguyen Van Tien had pleaded guilty to felling the agarwood trees, with two others still at large, at the Bukit Panchor Forest Reserve at 3.30pm on Jan 1.