Singaporean hiker who went missing at Hutan Panti Forest Reserve found safe

KOTA TINGGI: The 33-year-old Singaporean who went missing after going for a hike at Hutan Panti Forest Reserve here has been found safe.

Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Hussin Zamora said that the man, identified as Jason Ren Jie, was found by members of the public at the roadside at KM52, Jalan Kota Tinggi-Mersing near Kubu Jepun (Batu 15).

“We received a call at 2.22pm on Sunday (Sept 18) and deployed a team to the location.

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“The victim only suffered minor cuts on his body and was brought to the Kota Tinggi Hospital for treatment before being handed over to the Johor Forestry Department for entering the forest reserve without a permit,” he said in a statement.

Supt Hussin reminded members of the public to get their permits before entering any forest reserve and to hire a mountain guide to avoid such incidents from happening.

Johor Forestry Department director Datuk Salim Aman said that the department had recorded the man’s statement and will hand over the case to the deputy public prosecutor's office.

“The case is investigated under Section 47 of the National Forestry Act 1984 (Act 313) for entering the forest reserve without a permit, which carries a fine not exceeding RM10,000, or jailed not more than three years, or both, upon conviction,” he said.

Earlier, the Singaporean was reported missing after hiking at Hutan Panti Forest Reserve together with a friend.

The duo began their climb at 11.30am on Saturday (Sept 17).

The friend was not able to locate his whereabouts and lodged a police report at 3.26pm on the same day.