Disciplinary action against wildlife officer who stole 67 permits

PETALING JAYA: A Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) officer stole 67 CITES permits – which allow for the import and export of endangered animals and animal parts – and gave 23 away.

The man returned the other 44 blank permits later. He has been arrested and handed over to police. However, the police have released him on bail.

The case was referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers but the deputy public prosecutor recommended disciplinary action and not criminal action against the officer involved.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the loss of the permits was discovered by Perhilitan on July 13.

“A police report was lodged the next day. The officer who took these from storage later admitted to it.

“Perhilitan has reported the missing permits to CITES so that nobody can use these,” said Dr Wan Junaidi.

Malaysia sent a notification to CITES dated July 28, informing the secretariat that these permits were stolen from Perhilitan on July 5.

There are 23 permits, with serial numbers ranging from 89771 to 89793.

“The officer claimed he had given the 23 to other people,” he said.

He said Perhilitan has set up a committee to look into the safety and handling procedures of CITES permits after the theft.

The officer admitted to stealing them from its storage at Perhilitan Federal Territory office in Bandar Tasik Permaisuri, Kuala Lumpur.

“The matter has been forwarded to the Public Service Department,” he said.

Asked if the officer involved had been tasked with handling these permits, Dr Wan Junaidi said the committee would look into this.

“The committee will look into the safety and all the standard operating procedures on accessibility to these permits.”

In 2007, Malaysia had also informed CITES that three permits and a security stamp were missing from a wildlife office in Sarawak.