By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Aug 18: A 32-year-old man from Sibu was sentenced to eight months in jail and fined RM50,000 by the Sessions Court here today for possessing 732 turtle eggs without a valid licence.
Mohamad Nazarudin Zuami pleaded guilty before Judge Musli Abdul Hamid to one charge under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998.
According to the charge, he was found in possession of 732 eggs belonging to the Chelonidae species – a fully protected animal under the law – at a house along Jalan Batu Kawa around 10am on August 13.
The court was told that a joint team from the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) and the marine police raided the premises under Op Bersepadu Khazanah and discovered the eggs stored in three plastic bags of different colours.
When questioned, the accused failed to produce any authorisation or licence from the Controller of Wildlife to keep the protected eggs.
For the offence, Nazarudin could have faced up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of RM20,000 for each protected animal or its parts. Judge Musli also ordered that the accused serve an additional six months’ jail if he fails to pay the fine.
The prosecution was conducted by SFC prosecuting officers Leonard Baring and Willy Chin Siaw Min. Nazarudin was not represented by counsel. — DayakDaily
