Geologist fined RM32,000 for smuggling gold from Tawau mine to Pahang

KOTA KINABALU: A geologist was fined RM32,000 after pleading guilty to four counts of illegally transporting gold concentrate residues for sale to a goldsmith in Raub, Pahang.

Edwin James, 36, entered the plea after charges framed under Regulation 6 (1) (c) of the Mineral Development (Licensing) Regulations 2016 were read to him before Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles here on Thursday (March 28).

The offences were committed at the Inanam Express Bus Station here between 2020 and 2022.

The gold was from Sabah's controversial gold mine in Tawau that had been rocked by multiple investigations.

James, who was attached to a government-linked company in Sabah, was ordered to pay a fine of RM8,000 in default 18 months' jail for each charge.

Under Regulation 6(5) of the legislation, he faced a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a jail term of up to three years, or both, upon conviction.

He paid the fine.

DPP Muhammad Al-Hakim Abdul Razak informed the court that James had received at least RM800,000 from the illegal dealing and called for a deterrent punishment to serve as a lesson to the accused and others.

During mitigation, James' defence counsel Chin Teck Ming pleaded for leniency as this was his client's first offence.

Furthermore, he said, James was the sole breadwinner of the family and the father of two young children.