Fishmonger jailed 6 months for possessing turtle eggs after Kuching High Court allows prosecution's appeal
KUCHING (April 25): The High Court here today sentenced a fishmonger to six months in prison for illegally possessing 490 turtle eggs three years ago, after allowing the prosecution's appeal.
Judge Leonard David Shim delivered the revised sentence against Amir Tahrimie Ya'kob, 37, after the prosecution successfully appealed for a review of the original punishment from the lower court.
Shim also upheld the RM24,500 fine imposed earlier on Amir by the Sessions Court.
On June 27, 2024, Amir pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court to a charge under Section 37(1) of the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998, punishable under Section 37(2)(a) read with Section 29(1)(c) of the same law.
He was charged with possessing 490 turtle eggs of the Cheloniidae species without authorisation from the wildlife controller at a premises on Jalan Sultan Tengah around 6pm on July 15, 2022.
The Sessions Court sentenced him to a fine of RM24,500 in default six months' imprisonment and Amir paid the fine.
The appeal of the case was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Arvin Khan, while Amir was represented by lawyer Theresa Dunstan Udam.
According to the facts of the case, a team of wildlife officers from the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) conducted an inspection at a shop believed to be storing turtle eggs, which is a protected species.
The inspection uncovered five transparent plastic bags containing 490 turtle eggs.
Further investigation revealed that Amir failed to produce any written authorisation from the wildlife controller permitting him to possess the eggs. Arvin Khan Kuching High Court lead Leonard David Shim
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