Man jailed, fined RM200,000 over 20 green turtle eggs

KOTA KINABALU: A 21-yearold man was slapped with one year's jail plus a hefty fine of RM200,000, in default, two years' jail for illegally possessing 20 green turtle eggs.

Sessions Court judge Elsie Primus imposed the sentence on Alsirad Samad after he pleaded guilty to the offence yesterday.

He had possessed Green Turtle eggs (Chelonia mydas), which is a fully protected animal produce, without any valid permit.

The offence took place in his car at a parking space behind a hypermarket in Putatan at 11.15am on June 26.

Alsirad had committed an offence under Section 41(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 and punishable under Section 41 (4)of the same Enactment, which provides for a fine between RM50,000, and RM250,000 and a jail term between a year and five years, upon conviction.

In mitigation, the accused, who was not represented, pleaded for leniency, but prosecuting officer Abdul Karim Dakog from the Wildlife Department urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence.

Abdul Karim said the punishment for the offence had changed which was heavier than before, which showed the seriousness of the offence.

The court ordered the accused to serve the jail sentence from the date of his arrest.