Fish farm owner detained over turtle meat, shells
SEMPORNA: A marine police team detained a 32-year-old fish farm owner and two workers after turtle meat and shells were found in a farm at Denawan Island on Thursday.
Sabah Region Four marine police acting commander Superintendent Norzaid Mohammad Said said the marine police found 53kg of turtle meat worth RM1,500 being dried on a fish cage at the fish farm about 4.30pm.
A check on a nearby seashore area led to the discovery of 30kg of turtle shells worth RM300 and cooking equipment believed used for cooking the turtle meat.
He said the suspect and his workers aged 16 and 23, were detained under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 and brought back to the marine base in Semporna.
He added that the total seizures were worth RM10,450, including a boat and engine, a petrol tank, a gas cylinder, a cut drum and two baskets.
The marine police also arrested a 36-year-old boat skipper at the waters off Boheian Island after he failed to show any identification documents, on Thursday night.
Norzaid said a marine patrol boat stopped and checked a boat about 8pm and found the skipper without any documents.
He said the suspect from Kampung Labian Haji, Semporna was detained under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and was brought back to the marine base.
The boat, engine, a water pump, a propeller, fuel tank and fuel container were also seized.
In another case, a 32-year-old local man was arrested at Denawan Island after marine personnel found a plastic packet suspected to contain syabu weighing about 0.39 gram inside a cigarette pack kept inside a bag pouch the suspect was wearing.
The suspect was brought back to Semporna and will be charged under the Dangerous Drug Act 1952.