KUALA LUMPUR: Two men have claimed trial for illegal possession of African rhinoceros horns, marking the country's first prosecution of such a crime.
The trial, scheduled to begin in September, follows the seizure of 50 rhino horn pieces nearly three years ago near Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
The media reported that the defendants opted for a trial, reversing their guilty plea recorded during a previous court appearance last month.
This unexpected decision caught both media and conservation groups off guard, who had anticipated a sentencing for the accused.
The trial is now scheduled to take place on Sept 11, 12 and 25, this year.
Mohamad Sukry Wahab and Muhammad Hafiszan Naser, are facing charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
The first charge involves the possession of 49 pieces of square-lipped rhinoceros (ceratotherium simum) horns, while the second charge involves one black rhinoceros (diceros bicornis) horn.
If found guilty, the defendants could face a maximum fine of RM100,000 and up to three years in jail for each charge.
Notably, the charges were brought forth before the amendment of the law in 2022, which now imposes heavier penalties for such offences.
The two accused were discovered with the items in a Mitsubishi Fuso vehicle, parked by the roadside near Bulatan Masjid KLIA at around 9.15pm on Sep 9, 2021.
This seizure marks one of Malaysia's largest rhino horn confiscations and the only instance where a legal case has been initiated.
Malaysia, like several other Southeast Asian nations, has been grappling with the trafficking of African rhino horns into Asia.
Although previous confiscations occurred at ports and airports, it was not followed with arrests and prosecutions.
For instance in 2018, authorities seized 50 rhino horn pieces at a postal centre in Kuala Lumpur.
In July 2022, the Selangor Customs Department seized RM80 million worth of wildlife carcasses, including 6,000kg of elephant tusks from Africa.
The seizure, which included pangolin scales, rhinoceros horns and tiger fangs, among others, was the biggest in its history.