Bangladeshi man fined RM30,000 for smuggling 35 black tortoises

SEPANG: A Bangladeshi man was fined RM30,000 in default three months' jail by the Sessions Court here today for smuggling 35 black tortoises or Geoclemys Hamiltonnii, which are endangered wildlife species protected by law, at the KL International Airport (KLIA) two months ago.
Judge Harith Sham Mohamed Yasin handed down the sentence after the tuition teacher Kazi Faruk Ahmed, 36, admitted committing the offence at the airport's departure hall at 9.45am on March 23.
He was charged under Section 71 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 which provides fine not exceeding RM100,000 and jail not more than three years upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, Kazi was heading to Indonesia from Dhaka and was arrested while in transit at the KLIA.
The 35 black tortoises were found in his two luggage bags and upon questioning, he failed to produce the letter of approval to be in possession of the protected wildlife.
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) prosecution officer Mohd Khairul Mubin Ab Satar prosecuted, while Kazi was represented by counsel Datuk R.S.Sodhi. — Bernama