KG TIMPANGO CASE OF SHOOTING 3 BUFFALOES

First Native Case in Penampang for year 2015
Date 22 January 2015

Plaintiff:  Padan
Defendant:  Jongujis

PENAMPANG. A farmer from Kg. Timpango here, finally agreed to pay RM1000 which is the balance of his fine for shooting three buffaloes last year.

The case was first heard in chamber on 15 May 2014 where the plaintiff who owned the 3 buffaloes had claimed compensation. The defendant had counterclaimed for damages to his crops when the buffaloes had strayed into his land before being shot.

 

After the damaged crops were evaluated, the Native Court had determined the defendant still had RM1000 to pay including RM500 for the peace of the village. However, until yesterday the defendant had yet to pay the balance of the fine prompting the plaintiff to summon him back to court. When asked why, the defendant claimed that the remaining buffaloes owned by the plaintiff were still running wild on his land.

This excuse earned him a rebuke from the bench and he was told not to mix and confuse new issues with the previous decision of the court. He can submit fresh complaints on new issues.

 

When the defendant promised to pay be the “end of next month” the court set February 27 ( Friday) as the settlement date.

 

The panel of native judges was led by District Chief Bryan Matasing together with Native Chiefs Andrew S Lidaun and Woritus Paulus disposed the case within 30 minutes. After both parties have signed their statements, Matasing summed up by reminding both parties on the meaning of “sogit”.

After it is paid, both parties should reconcile since sogit means “to cool down” in the local dialect which help maintain the peace in their village. He also said a gun is called firearm and fire is hot. He hoped that this incident will not happen again and reminded the defendant that even pointing an empty or unloaded gun without reason is a serious offence.

 

Outside the court, one Native Chief explained that domesticated buffaloes should be caught and compounded so the owner can be fined for letting them loose and not shot because farmers are given licence to own a shotgun to protect their crops against dangerous or wild animals only.