Duo fined RM5,000 each for possessing protected animal parts

Two men were each fined RM5,000 in default three months’ in prison by the Sessions Court in Kapit yesterday after they pleaded guilty to possessing protected animal parts without permission.

Lidong Adan, 42, and Matius Ajang, 50, were each charged under Section 37(1) of the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998, punishable under Section 29(2) and read together with Section 37(2)(b) of the same Ordinance.

The Section provides for imprisonment of one year or a fine of RM10,000 per individual animal part.

Both accused paid the fine. According to the charge, they were found in possession of a total of 22.6kg or 13,240 pieces of animal parts belonging to the pangolin species Manis javanica packed in two black plastic bags inside a pickup truck at Jalan Bakun/Belaga-Bintulu nearby Sungai Asap in Belaga, at about 1pm on Nov 11, 2022.

Prosecuting officer Ronald Felix Hardin from Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) prosecuted the case, while both accused were unrepresented.