Not long after Tok Borhan’s passing, news of his absence began circulating around the village. Soon after, Dinesh informed us that unauthorized parties were taking advantage of the situation—stealing palm oil fresh fruit bunches from Grandmother’s lots as well as neighboring plots.
Recognizing the immediate threat to the estate, Father and Dinesh headed straight to the Seri Menanti police station to file a formal police report. Once the paper trail was established, we waited.
Action came sooner than expected. Around early December, Dinesh received an urgent call from the police: they had caught the thieves red-handed right on the property. Being on duty at a nearby estate, Dinesh rushed over to the scene. He arrived to find police patrol cars surrounding several lorries loaded with stolen fruit.
Dinesh immediately called Father to update him on the situation. The officers gave us two options: bring the perpetrators to court, or settle the matter directly through compensation. Wanting to avoid a drawn-out legal process while securing immediate resolution and a clear deterrent, Father decided that an out-of-court settlement was the most practical route.
Dinesh met with the representative of the group, calculated the financial loss based on estimated fruit weight and market value, and negotiated a fair figure. The perpetrators agreed to the terms and paid Dinesh in cash on the spot.
A few weeks later, Father, Dinesh, and I met up in the village. Dinesh handed over the recovered funds, and as a token of appreciation for his prompt action and vigilance, Father and I gave him an RM 200 gratuity.
Since that afternoon, no unauthorized harvesters have set foot on the farm. Swift intervention, a solid police force, and an attentive local manager proved to be the ultimate deterrent. Kudos to the local police department for their efficiency, and a huge thank you to Dinesh for safeguarding the land.