Seremban: A husband and wife were each fined RM24,000 by the Sessions Court yesterday for illegally possessing nine protected and controlled turtle species in November 2022.
Judge Mazni Nawi ruled that the accused, Lee Mun Heng, 65, and Lim Chai Hak, 50, would face imprisonment for each charge if they failed to pay the fines.
For the first charge, the couple was found in possession of an Amboina box turtle, a species protected under Schedule One of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
In the second and third charges, the couple was found with three Amboina box turtles and two African Spurred Tortoises, also without permits. These species are protected under the same schedule of the same act.
For the final charge, the couple was found to have kept three Red-Eared Slider turtles, a controlled species listed under Schedule Five of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
All offences occurred around 9:30 a.m. in November 2022 at a residence located at Green Street Homes, Seremban 2.
The first charge was filed under Section 62 of Act 716, which carries a maximum penalty of RM100,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, if convicted.
The second and third charges were brought under Section 60(1)(a) of Act 716, which provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment for up to two years, or both, upon conviction.
For the fourth charge, the defendants were prosecuted under Section 117(1) of Act 716, which stipulates a maximum fine of RM30,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both, if found guilty.
Wildlife and National Parks Department officer Gilmoore G. Bolongon prosecuted the case, while the defendants were represented by lawyers Jayaprakash Rao and Ong Chong Ming.