LENGGONG: A 50-year-old man pleaded guilty at the magistrate's court here today to two charges of possession of firearms and 34 live bullets on March 11.
Mohd Roslan Baharom, who was detained by the police for suspected illegal hunting activities, pleaded guilty when the charges were read to him before magistrate Raja Shahril Anuar Raja Baniamin.
On the first count, Mohd Roslan was charged with possessing a homemade shotgun at No 42, Kampung Padang Jeri, Gerik at noon on March 11.
On the second count, he was charged with illegal possession of 34 live 12Bore bullets at a house in Lot 1907, Perumahan Mesra Rakyat, Kampung Air Pulau, Gerik at 2pm on the same date.
For both offences, he was charged under Section 8(a) of the Firearms Act 1960, which provides for up to seven years’ imprisonment, or a fine of not more than RM10,000, or both, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Azfar Mahmod prosecuted, while the accused was not represented.
Muhammad Azfar made an appeal for the case to be re-mentioned pending a firearm and ballistic report; and he did not offer bail to the accused.
Raja Shahril Anuar, however, allowed RM20,000 bail with one surety for both charges and set April 30 for the case’s re-mention.
It was reported that police arrested four men and seized firearms, along with hunting equipment, used in illegal hunts.
It followed the discovery of a 30-year-old male elephant which was shot dead at Hutan Piah, about 15km from Jalan Gerik-Kuala Kangsar, here on March 11.
Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order director Commissioner Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah said police also seized RM10,500, a deer horn and seven bone pieces believed to be from a tiger.
He said those arrested include a 44-year-old contractor who works with the Forest Research Institute Malaysia; a 40-year-old backhoe operator from Kota Baru, Kelantan; a 49-year-old latex seller from Lenggong; and a rubber tapper, 40, also from Lenggong.
"From the suspect’s (testimony), we believe (that the suspects) have killed some 20 elephants after they started hunting illegally in 2009," Zulkifli added.