SANDAKAN: Four Indonesian men were sentenced to 12 months’ jail for possession of green turtles without permits.
The four – Sariana Launga, 39; Lahadi Lahasani, 48; La Ode Rahman, 21; and Masrin Lalufi, 50 – were arrested near the Sugud island marine conservation area on Aug 11.
They pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 41(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
Judge Ummu Kalthom Abd. Samad meted out the sentence at the Sessions court here.
Based on the case’s fact sheet, the four were caught red-handed by a group of reef guardians who were patrolling the area.
Upon inspection of the quartet’s fishing boat, the guardians discovered a dead green turtle.
They were arrested and their fishing boat was seized.
The judge had asked for the turtle’s carcass to be buried, while the confiscated boat was to be returned to its owner.
The case was prosecuted by Abdul Karim Dakog from the Sabah Wildlife department.