KUCHING: The Sessions Court here has sentenced an elderly man to a two-year good behaviour bond for possessing 415 turtle eggs without a valid permit two years ago.
Judge Afidah Abdul Rahman made the decision against Abang Hassimsah Abang Zainal, 58, after he pleaded guilty to an amended charge under Section 37(1) of the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998.
The offence, punishable under Section 37(2)(a), read with Section 29(1)(c) and Section 51 of the same Ordinance, carries a potential prison sentence of up to two years and a fine up to RM25,000 for each part of the animal, if convicted.
The offence was committed at an agricultural business premises in Matang at around 9.45 am on July 15, 2023.
In addition to the bond, the court also ordered Abang Hassimah to provide a surety of RM20,000 without deposit, along with two sureties.
In the proceedings, the court took into account the public interest and Abang Hassimah’s prior conviction, where he was previously convicted for a similar offence in 2023.
On April 25 last year, he was fined RM39,660 in default six months’ imprisonment for possessing 1,322 turtle eggs.
According to the case facts, a team of wildlife officers from the Sarawak Forest Corporation (SFC) found several green plastic bags containing 415 turtle eggs during an inspection at Abang Hassimah’s business premises on July 15, 2023
He was unable to produce any written permission from the wildlife authority to possess the eggs.
Deputy public prosecutor Ronald Felix Hardin and prosecutors Simon Engka Crown and Leonard Baring handled the prosecution. Abang Hassimah appeared in court without legal representation.
