Two plead guilty to smuggling endangered crocodiles

[ASEAN NOW News]

Two men who pleaded guilty to involvement in the illegal importation of endangered wildlife were ordered to settle fines by the Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

 

 

According to the Borneo Bulletin, Dionysius Wee, a 41-year-old permanent resident, was ordered to settle a BND3,000 fine or serve three months’ jail in default of payment, for the possession of two crocodiles listed in the appendix of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

 

Muhammad Syafiq bin Awang, a 29-year-old local citizen, was ordered to settle a BND1,500 fine or serve a month in jail in default of payment, for making an incorrect oral declaration to a customs officer.

 

Deputy Public Prosecutor Pengiran Hajah Nor ‘Azmeena binti Pengiran Haji Mohiddin informed court that Wee runs an entertainment business involving animal shows.

 

At 2.26pm on January 9, 2019, Wee had a crocodile hatchling in his car, while Muhammad Syafiq carried a more mature specimen in his van, while bound for the Sungai Tujoh control post.

 

Muhammad Syafiq arrived first and was queried about his cargo by a customs officer, when he said that he was only carrying some clothes.

 

A further inspection led to the discovery of the crocodile inside the van. Wee arrived shortly after and gave an explanation to the officers, while producing a document.

 

The two men were released but were later summoned to court when subsequent investigations found that the document produced by Wee does not stand to allow importation of the crocodiles.

 

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.

 

CITES entered into force in 1975 and currently regulates the trade of approximately 30,000 species of plants and 5,600 species of animals. Many believe that CITES has been a success, noting that no species listed under CITES has gone extinct in the last 30 years.