Man caught with 197 pythons and other exotic animals fined RM70,000

BUTTERWORTH: A 46-year-old businessman has been fined RM70,000 by the Sessions Court here for possessing exotic animals – including 197 pythons – without a valid license.

Loh Kok Keong pleaded guilty to all seven charges before Sessions judge Noor Aini Yusof at the courthouse in Butterworth on Tuesday (March 19).

He was first charged with possessing four Ball Pythons in his pickup truck during an inspection by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) at a petrol station in Bagan Lalang on July 16, 2023,

Loh was then charged with being in possession of 193 Ball Pythons in an apartment in Butterworth.

At another apartment unit nearby, he was charged with being in possession of a Leopard Tortoise.

He was slapped with another four charges for being in possession of two Yellow Footed tortoises, two Indian Star Tortoises, two Sulcata Tortoises and two Green Iguanas.

He did not have a valid licence for any of the exotic animals.

He was charged under Section 60(1)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, which carries a fine of up to RM50,000 or a jail term not exceeding three years or both upon conviction.

Noor Aini issued Loh a RM70,000 fine in total for all offences in default of jail terms ranging from one to 10 months.

She also ordered for Loh's seized pickup truck and mobile phones to be returned to him.

DPP Nazarudin Kamarudin and Nadzatul Nattassha Mustapa Kamal from Perhilitan prosecuted the case while Loh was represented by lawyer Foong Choon Kit.