Two to enter defence for smuggling 50 rhino horns
According to the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (Traffic), Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman said the facts suggested both men had control of the vehicle transporting the horns and were aware of its contents, and there was no doubt in the prosecution's case.
The duo was charged under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 for the illegal possession of 49 horn pieces from the white rhino and one from the critically endangered black rhino.
They were arrested in September 2021 after their lorry was intercepted near Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), and Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) enforcement officers discovered the horns.
Both accused, Mohamad Sukry Wahab and Muhammad Hafiszan Naser, initially pleaded guilty but later changed their plea in April last year.
Ahmad made his ruling today after reviewing several issues, including the legal interpretation of "keeping" wildlife parts, and whether the accused knew they were transporting horns collected from the airport cargo terminal.
The defence is scheduled to present its case on Aug 13 and 14.
In March 11, then natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said Perhilitan would take proactive measures to combat illicit wildlife trade, including stepping up enforcement at the country's entry points.
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