Man caught trying to steal dabai off tree at agriculture centre placed on peace bond

KUCHING (Feb 9): The Magistrates’ Court here yesterday placed a man on a six-month bond to keep the peace for attempting to steal ‘dabai’ (Canarium odontophyllum) off a tree at the Semongok Agriculture Research Centre along Jalan Kuching-Serian.

Senior Assistant Registrar Abdurrahman Abrar Jarni issued the order under Section 67 of the Criminal Procedure Code against Wilber Joseap, 34, who was charged with committing the offence at about 10.35am on Feb 4, 2026.

Based on the facts of the case, a general services assistant at the research centre was working outdoors with a colleague when he spotted an unknown man—later identified as Wilber—cutting a branch off a dabai tree for its fruit.

The two colleagues proceeded to apprehend Wilbur and handed him over to the police for further action.

During interrogation, Wilber not only admitted to trespassing into the compound but also to having stolen dabai from the same location on previous occasions.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Afiq Safly Nor Kazly prosecuted the case, while the accused was unrepresented.