Xavier: Court’s RM1.56 million fine for poaching sets sentencing benchmark
The fine of RM1.56 million imposed on two Vietnamese poachers by the Kuala Terengganu Sessions Court on Thursday was the highest in the country’s history, said the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry.
“It was the highest ever fine involving wildlife offences in the nation’s history,” said Minister Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar.
Xavier was referring to the case involving Vietnamese poachers Hoang Van Viet, 29, and Nguyen Van Thiet, 26, who were sentenced to two years’ jail and fined RM1.56 million.
They face another 16 years behind bars if they do not pay the fine.
Both were sentenced after pleading guilty to 20 charges under Section 29(1)(b) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 for possession of snares, and Sections 68(2)(c), 68(1)(b) and 60(1)(b) of the same act for having parts of fully protected species, namely that of a desert goat, black panther, leopard, tapir, sun bear, wild cat and wild boar.
They allegedly used 22 snares to trap the animals and harvested various organs of the animals, such as the desert goat’s bile, black panther’s claws, a leopard’s fangs and claws, tapir’s bones, sun bear’s bile and bones, as well as the wild cat’s claws and fangs.
Xavier said the two poachers were detained by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) special tactical team, known as the Special Protected Area Response Team (Sparta).
He said the Sparta team tracked down and arrested the men during Op Belang on April 19 in Taman Negara, Terengganu.
“I and all the people of the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry, particularly Perhilitan, welcome the court’s decision, which has given new hope in the ministry’s efforts to combat wildlife crime.”
Xavier said the decision would also prove to be a catalyst for the ministry to intensify its efforts to combat wildlife crime, as well as the elements that sought to destroy Malaysia’s wildlife and natural resources.
“It is hoped that the sentence will become a benchmark against those who have malicious intent to undermine the country’s wildlife for their selfish ends.
“Illegal hunters are traitors of the nation and as such, there is no place for them in the country,” said Xavier.