Ulu Yam businessman claims he was roughed up by Wildlife Dept officers

PETALING JAYA: A businessman has claimed that he was injured in an "ambush" by officers of the Selangor Wildlife Department at his farmhouse.  

The 55-year-old man, identified as Gary Lim, lodged a police report, claiming that he was handcuffed and pushed to the ground in Friday's incident.  

Lim said he was injured on his face, shoulder and leg.  

He said he was caught off-guard when several four-wheel vehicles entered the compound of his farmhouse at Kampung Sungai Kamin, Ulu Yam.  

Lim alleged that more than 10 uniformed and plain-clothes personnel introduced themselves as from the state Wildlife Department.  

He said they became angry when he asked for their authority document to justify their presence at his compound.  

"I was immediately handcuffed by one of the officers and pushed to the ground.   

“I suffered bleeding nose and bruises on my left knee and right shoulder from the fall,” he told The Star on Tuesday.  

“I was in pain but they were not interested in helping me. They then went on to seize some of the pets on my farmhouse.  

“Several unique pets, including four tortoises,  five blue iguanas, a sugar glider and a gecko (lizard) were confiscated.  

"I believe it is unlawful because I have a permit to keep them,” Lim said, adding that he obtained them from pet shops.  

Along with the pets, Lim claimed that one of his mobile phones was confiscated.  

Lim said he was a pet lover, which was why he started the farmhouse five years ago after he retired from his furniture business.  

He said he had a wide range of domestic animals in his farmhouse, including dogs and cats, geese, goats, chicken, peacocks, swans and birds.  

He said the officers took him to the Ulu Yam Baru police station where they lodged a report on the list of pets seized from his farmhouse.  

After the officers let him free, Lim said he made a police report at the same police station against them.  

An official of the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) confirmed that a raid was conducted at a farm in Ulu Yam last week.  

The official said the raid was conducted following a tip-off that protected species were kept at the premises.  

“Under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716), Perhilitan enforcement officers are given the power to arrest any person who is suspected to have committed an offence under the Act.  

“The case is being investigated under the Act and related laws," said the official.