KOTA KINABALU: Three foreigners were sentenced to a year in prison and fined a total of RM660,000 for possessing 865kg of critically endangered green sea turtle parts in the northern waters of Sabah, off Kudat.
The three Filipino nationals, skipper Erwin Monares Comendo, 39, crew Rudyzon Darel Infante, 37, and Amel Meniona, 52, pleaded guilty to possessing the turtle body parts before Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court judge A. Akhiruddin Acho, sitting at Kota Marudu Courthouse on Monday (May 26).
The trio were charged under Section 41(1) of the state's Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for a five-year jail term and a maximum RM250,000 fine.
The Sessions court judge sentenced each to one year imprisonment and a fine of RM220,000 each. If they fail to pay the fine, they would be subjected to an additional eight months' jail term
The three were arrested on Sept 27, 2023, by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), who found the suspects with the green turtle parts packed inside 39 sacks and 14 boxes on their boat in waters off Simpang Mengayau
The case was investigated by the Sabah Wildlife Department, and they were charged on Dec 9, 2024.
Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd disclosed the court decision in a statement on Monday.
Soffian Abu Bakar said the success resulted from the cooperation between enforcement agencies.
“The Sabah Wildlife Department greatly appreciates the cooperation and swift action of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in Kudat District, who successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle turtle products in Sabah waters,” Soffian said.
