LAHAD DATU: A 56-year-old man was fined RM25,000 fine for illegal possession of live pangolins and pangolin scales.
The sentence, in default of three years’ jail term, was meted out by Sessions Court judge Zaini Fishir here on Thursday.
Abdullah Rappe pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 41 (2) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 for possession of protected wildlife product without permit.
The Sabah Wildlife Department director Dr William Baya said in a statement that Abdullah had pleaded for leniency through his counsel Edward Paul but Prosecuting Officer Augustine Tuuga pressed for harder deterrent sentence to prevent further depletion of the species due to poaching activities.
Abdullah was picked up during a roadblock near Pusat Timbangan JPJ Sandau along Sandakan-Lahad Datu road on Feb 20. The state Wildlife Department personnel found 24 live pangolins, a carcass, and a plastic bag full of pangolin’s internal organs along with 900g of pangolin scales in his car.
"Those live pangolins received immediate veterinary care at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre upon seizure and 20 of them which had recovered were released back to a forest reserve.
"I am glad those pangolins are now back in the wild instead of ending up on someone’s dinner plate or being used as traditional medicine." said Baya.