Ex-cop denies keeping 43 pangolins without permit

ALOR SETAR: A former police constable pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday for keeping 43 pangolins without a permit.

The accused, Muhammad Norazzuan Ahmad Zahari, 26, was jailed last year for the same offence.

Yesterday, he was charged with four counts of keeping 43 pangolins and mistreating the animals. The offence was allegedly committed at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Customs Inspection Complex on November 10, 2014 at about 5.15pm.

On the first charge, Muhammad Norazzuan is accused of keeping eight male pangolins, keeping 12 young pangolins on the second charge and keeping 23 female pangolins on the third charge, in the boot of his car.

On the fourth charge, he is accused of mistreating the pangolins by tying t hem up and not giving them food and water, thus causing the animals discomfort and to suffer.

The charges read to him before judge Indra Nehru Savandiah are under Section 68(1)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and Sections 69(1), 70(1) and 86(1)(c)(f) of the same Act, which are punishable with a fine of RM5,000 to RM200,000 or a jail term not exceeding 10 years, or both.

The scaly pangolin is a totally protected animal under Schedule Two of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.

Prosecuting officer from the Kedah Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), Mohamad Refaee Abdul Hamid appeared for the prosecution while the accused was unrepresented.

The court fixed December 16 for re-mention of the case to enable the accused to hire a lawyer to represent him.