NEGARA

Jembrana Police say they have arrested an illegal logger who had returned to the business even though he was jailed for two months in 2004 for the same offence.

Ketut Sudarna, 33, also known as Rhino and from Sumber Sari at Melaya, was arrested a week ago with 54 planks cut from forest timber he planned to sell for Rp5,000 (55 US cents) a plank.

He told police it was plantation timber but forestry officers called in to check said it had been illegally removed from protected forestland.

Sudarna said he worked at odd jobs to make a living and often gathered firewood in the forest.

He has been charged under the 1999 Forestry Law.