SIBU, July 28: Six Indonesian men were fined RM12,000 for possession of protected wildlife and wild birds, including a crocodile and a White-rumped Shama, or locally known as “Burung Murai Batu”.
Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), in a press statement today, reported that the six accused have pleaded guilty to the charges before Session Court judge Marutin Pagan and paid the fine in full.
On July 21 at about 12.15pm, an enforcement team from SFC Sibu Regional Office and the Marine Police of Region 5 Sibu conducted a joint operation at Jalan Rantau Panjang Trusan where they found and confiscated a crocodile kept illegally by the five accused, who had failed to produce valid permits from the Controller of Wild Life for possessing the animal.
They were charged under Section 29(2) of the Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1998 for possessing a protected animal. They were fined RM1,000 each in default three-months imprisonment.
In another case, one accused was found to have in possession two Murai Kampung birds and two Merbok birds, while another accused was caught for keeping two White-rumped Shama birds.
As they failed to show valid permits from the Controller, they were fined RM1,000 and RM6,000 respectively.
SFC chief executive officer (CEO) Zolkipli Aton warned that they will continue to step up enforcement against illegal possession of wildlife and its products in Sarawak.
Members of the public who have information of those capturing, hunting, trading or keeping protected wildlife can contact SFC hotlines at 019-8859996 (Kuching), 019-8883561 (Sibu), 019-8332737 (Bintulu), and 019-8290994 (Miri). — DayakDaily
