KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Wildlife department (SWD) has won almost all the cases it prosecuted, said its spokesperson Siti Nur'Ain Ampuan Acheh.
The department has prosecuted 30 cases between 2018 and 2022.
SWD has won 25 cases to date, with two cases still pending. The remaining cases were either dismissed without acquittal, discontinued, or an arrest warrant was issued.
During the Turtle Island Heritage Protected Area Conference 2023 (TIHPA Conference 2023) here yesterday, she said that there would be a stiffer penalty following the amendment to its Wildlife Conservation Enactment.
"It is good to know the green court has gradually upgraded and increased the penalty (against the perpetrators)," she said while presenting a paper at a hotel.
Three turtle species - Green, Hawksbill and Olive Ridley - are classified as protected animals under the amended Enactment.
Section 41(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 provides for a fine of at least RM50,000 but not more than RM250,000 and jail term of between a year and five years.
Siti also shared that the department recorded seven turtle poaching cases and a total of 28,006 eggs were confiscated with 18 arrests made between 2018 and 2022.
"Wildlife crime has never stopped, they just change their modus operandi, there is no stopping and no slowing down.
"It affects our ecotourism industry. We always tell tourists that we are a prime destination for ecotourism, but if this goes on, it will give a bad image to Sabah."
Therefore, she added the department had been working together with other enforcement agencies, non-governmental organisations and resorts, to curb wildlife crimes, carry out rescue operations and educate the public.