KOTA KINABALU: Two locals and four Filipinos were convicted by the sessions court here today of possessing 1,308 tortoises without a valid permit.
The six men were arrested on Dec 7, last year, after the tortoises were discovered on their boat in Mengalum waters near here.
They were charged under Section 41 (2) of the 1997 Wildlife Conservation Enactment.
Sessions judge Ainul Mohamed Shahrin handed down a sentence of six months’ jail and a RM30,000 fine, in default of 30 days’ jail, to each man.
The six are Rashed Delan, Alsadat Belog, Madal Juldin, Ibrahim Kahal, Sidik Napaeh and Rasid Alain.
Locals Rashed, 33 and Alsadat, 39; and IMM13 holder Ibrahim, 44, were granted bail.
Ainul added that the imprisonment of Ibrahim, Sidik and Rasid, who are foreigners, is effective the date of their arrest on Dec 7, and that they will be referred to the Immigration Department after serving their sentence.
The six were represented by counsel Azheir Farhan, while Abdul Karim Dakog, from the Sabah Wildlife Department, prosecuted.