Thai jailed for attempted smuggling of wildlives

KUALA LUMPUR: -- Two Thai nationals were sentenced to eight months' jail after they pleaded guilty to hunting and attempting to smuggle out monitor lizards and monkeys from Malaysia, reports said Monday.

Bon Keanchu, 29, and Arun Indee, 42, were caught Saturday by wildlife officers from the northern Kelantan state while they were in possession of seven monitor lizards and two monkeys.

The duo, who were unrepresented in court, were charged with illegally hunting and keeping the animals, which are listed as protected species.

They were believed to have been trying to smuggle the animals into Thailand, the Malay-language Berita Harian newspaper reported.

The state magistrate court judge sentenced the two to carry out their jail sentences with immediate effect, adding that their deed was serious as it threatened the safety of the two endangered species.

--DPA 2006-04-10

for dinnertime at the CNX zoo?/Nightsafari?