Latest news with #WildLifeProtectionOrdinance
Borneo Post
7 days ago
- Borneo Post
Indonesian jailed 6 months for possessing 600 turtles eggs in Serikin without permit
Denis committed the offence at a stall in Serikin Market, Bau at around 2.30pm on July 11, 2025. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (July 16): The Sessions Court here today sentenced an Indonesian man to six months in jail for unlawfully possessing 600 turtle eggs. Judge Saiful Bahari Adzmi meted out the sentence against Denis Bobegi Septa after he pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 37(1) of the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998, punishable under Section 29(1)(c) and read together with Section 37(2)(a) of the same law. Denis committed the offence at a stall in Serikin Market, Bau at around 2.30pm on July 11, 2025. Based on the facts of the case, a team of Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) and Marine Police officers conducted Operasi Bersepadu Khazanah at the premises following intelligence reports. During the raid, the team arrested Denis after discovering 600 marine turtle eggs at the stall. Two-hundred eggs were packed in two plastic bags inside a box, while 400 eggs were inside four bags in another box. All 600 eggs were seized after Denis failed to present any valid permit or licence from the Controller of Wild Life. The turtle eggs were of the Chelonidae species, a totally protected animal as specified in Part 1 of the First Schedule in the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998. Prosecuting officer Simon Engka Crown prosecuted, while Denis was unrepresented by counsel. Serikin turtle eggs Wild Life Protection Ordinance
Borneo Post
30-06-2025
- Borneo Post
Man jailed 45 days for having 220 turtle eggs without lawful permission
Fauzi (right) is seen gesturing in the court lobby after the proceedings. KUCHING (June 30): A man was sentenced to 45 days in jail after pleading guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday to unlawfully possessing 220 turtle eggs two years ago. Fauzi Hassan, 45, was charged under Section 37(1) of the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998, punishable under Section 37(2)(a) of the same Ordinance and read together with Section 29(1)(c) of the same law. The Section provides for up to two years in prison and a fine of RM25,000 per individual animal part, upon conviction. He committed the offence at the back of a fast food chain outlet near a commercial centre along Jalan Matang here at around noon on Sept 30, 2023. According to the case facts, a Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) team conducted an inspection in the area and found Fauzi in possession of 220 marine turtle eggs. Fauzi failed to furnish any permission from the Controller of Wildlife to possess the said eggs. Further investigations confirmed that the turtle eggs were of the Chelonidae family, a totally protected animal as specified in Part 1 of the First Schedule in the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998. Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Syafiq Sapri prosecuted the case before Judge Saiful Bahari Adzmi, while lawyer Simon Siah represented the accused. Court jail sentence turtle eggs Wild Life Protection Ordinance
Borneo Post
14-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Chinese national in Miri jailed one day, fined RM10,000 for possession of protected agarwood
Photo shows the Miri Court Complex. — Photo by Jenifer Laeng MIRI (May 14): The Sessions Court here today sentenced a Chinese national to one day in prison and fined him RM10,000 in default three months' jail for illegally having protected agarwood (Aquilaria spp) in his possession. Judge Afidah Abdul Rahman convicted online seller Wu Ruxing, 48, of Fujian, China on his own guilty plea to a charge under Section 30(2) of the Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1998 and punishable under Section 30(2) of the same Ordinance. The Section provides for an imprisonment term of one year and a fine of RM10,000. According to the facts of the case, Wu was found to have in his possession 820 grammes of agarwood, which is listed as a protected species under Part II of the Second Schedule of the Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1998, without permission from the Controller of Wild Life. He committed the offence here on May 7 at around 1.15pm in a Jalan South Yu Seng budget hotel. In mitigation, Wu's legal counsel asked for leniency as this was his first offence and he was here on a social pass to visit friends. He also claimed to have bought the agarwood for personal use. Meanwhile, prosecuting officer Simon Engka Crown from the State Attorney-General's Chambers and Sarawak Forestry Corporation prosecuting officer Willy Chin Siaw Min argued that the harvesting of such agarwood species, which is listed as a critically endangered species under CITES and protected by the Ordinance, is a serious offence. They pointed out that the offence has a profound ecological impact as the removal of such a rare species disrupts the balance of the ecosystem and threatens biodiversity. They also argued that the possession of such a protected species also undermines ongoing conservation efforts that aim to protect endangered flora and fauna. The prosecution added that due to its high market value, the species is targeted for illegal harvesting, which made a harsher penalty both warranted and necessary.
