SIBU, June 24: Two local men were fined RM19,000 in total by the Sessions Court on Monday (June 22) for possession of endangered animal parts including Argus Pheasant (Burung Ruai) feathers, a bear skull as well as sambar and barking deer antlers.
Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) in a statement today revealed that the offenders who were caught separately in possession of various parts of totally protected and protected species, had pleaded guilty before Judge Stella Augustine Druce who meted out the sentences.
Uweng Ding, 51, who was arrested on Oct 5, 2019 at the Teresang market in Kapit for possessing 47 pieces of Burung Ruai feathers, was fined RM6,000 in default six months’ imprisonment.
Robin Nyuk, 40, who was arrested on the same day and at the same venue, pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing 22 pieces of Burung Ruai feathers, one bear skull, seven sambar deer antlers and three barking deer antlers. He was fined RM13,000 in default 17 months’ imprisonment.
SFC disclosed the operation carried out jointly with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) last year led to the arrest of the two men.
The prosecution was represented by Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPP) Khairul Kabit and Hishamuddin Roslan.
Controller of Wild Life Zolkipli Mohamad Aton stressed that SFC is serious in protecting wildlife in Sarawak.
“We will continue to monitor and carry out enforcement operations from time to time with the help of other enforcement agencies to fight illegal wildlife trade in the state,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, Argus Pheasant is classified as a totally protected species while bear skulls and deer antlers are protected under Section 37 of Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1998.
Any person who hunts, kills, captures, sells, offers for sale or claims to be offering for sale, imports, exports, or is in possession of any totally protected animal or any recognisable part can be jailed up to two years and fined up to RM25,000. — DayakDaily
