KOTA KINABALU: Four men have been arrested for illegal hunting activities at forest reserves in Sabah’s interior Tongod district.

       The authorities also seized two illegal homemade weapons and live bullets from the suspects, aged between 28 and 31, on Saturday.

       Kinabatangan police chief Supt Dzulbaharin Ismail said one of the suspects was detained by enforcement officers from the Sabah Forestry Department during a routine patrol at the Maliau Basin forest reserve, which is also known as the “Lost World of Sabah”.

       “Following an examination of the man, Forestry Department officers found a homemade firearm as well as 10 bullets in his possession.

       “The suspect is believed to have been hunting wild animals illegally in the forest reserve,” he said in a statement yesterday.

       Supt Dzulbaharin said in the second incident, a special team from the Forestry Department arrested three suspects at the Gunung Tikar forest reserve.

       The team had earlier spotted the men, who were travelling in a four-wheel drive, acting in a suspicious manner.

       After a check, he said the Forestry Department team found one homemade rifle at the back of the vehicle as well as six bullets in one of the suspect’s duffel bag.

       The four men have since been brought to the Kinabatangan police headquarters for further investigation, he added.

       Supt Dzulbaharin said police have opened two investigation papers under Section 8(a) of the Firearms Act 1960, which provides for a jail term of up to seven years and a maximum fine of RM10,000, upon conviction.

       He also urged local communities in the district to notify the police if they suspect any poaching activities in their area by calling the Kinabatangan police headquarters at 089-561 890.

       “The people are also reminded not to own or keep homemade firearms without a valid licence as this is a serious offence,” Supt Dzulbaharin added.