Duo get highest ever fine for wildlife-related crime

BENTONG: Two men were fined RM300,000 each, the highest ever for a wildlife-related crime, for having parts of a Sumatran serow, a protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Act.

The men, aged 42 and 51, were arrested on March 27 after enforcement officers found parts of the goat-like animal in their four-wheel drive at the Tekai Tembeling forest reserve near Jerantut, Pahang.

On Monday, they were charged with two counts of keeping the head and other parts of the endangered animal without a permit under Section 68(2)(c) of the Wildlife Conser­vation Act.

Temerloh Sessions Court judge Jamaludin Mat fined them RM300,000 or six months’ imprisonment each, in default two years’ jail for each offence.

The men were sent to Bentong Prison after they failed to pay the fine.

According to Perhilitan director-general Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, it was the highest fine ever recorded by the department in Peninsular Malaysia.

In a statement, Abdul Kadir said any individual interested in wildlife-related activities should obey the laws and consult Perhilitan about licences and permits.

“We hope the public will continue to be the eyes and ears of Perhilitan by channelling information to us so that we can protect our national treasures from extinction,” he said.

Perhilitan can be contacted at 1800 885 151 (Monday to Sunday, 8am to 6pm) or through its website at www.wildlife.gov.my.