KOTA TINGGI – Three men, including two brothers, have been sentenced to seven years imprisonment and a fine of RM250,000 (S$76,400) by the Sessions Court in Malaysia after they pleaded guilty to storing the carcass of a female Malayan tiger in a car boot.
The accused, Md Shaheezam Md Salim, 49, Nazerin Tomiran, 47, and his younger brother Mohamad Nazrol, 28, were charged in front of Sessions Judge Haydar Faridzal Abu Hasan on Sept 23.
According to the charge sheet, the three accused, who were in separate handcuffs, were found in possession of one dead female Malayan tiger in the boot of a car.
This occurred at a petrol station within Felda Tenggaroh in Mersing, Johor, at around 6.10am on Sept 16.
The tiger is a fully protected wildlife species under the Tenth Schedule of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, and declared under subsection of the same Act, without a special permit.
The offence carries a fine of not less than RM250,000 for each wildlife, or any part or derivative of a wildlife, and imprisonment for not more than 15 years.
The accused, who were not represented, pleaded guilty to the charge against them and called for leniency in their sentencing, with all three saying they have health issues.
Md Shaheezam told the court that he has stage-four liver cancer and is no longer working due to his condition while Nazerin and Mohamad Nazrol, who work as welders, are claiming kidney problems.
Judge Haydar Faridzal then sentenced each of them to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of RM250,000 in default of seven years in jail.
He also ordered the tiger’s carcass to be disposed of while the car together with its key and mobile phones are to be deprived of rights to the government.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Fatim Hanum Abdul Hadi prosecuted the case. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Animal welfareMalaysiaCars