Man fined $41,000 for having 32 wild and endangered animals in Toa Payoh flat

[Windsorlou]

Man fined $41,000 for having 32 wild and endangered animals in Toa Payoh flat

Published on Feb 06, 2014

More than 30 wild or endangered animals, including a slow loris (above), were rescued from a flat in Singapore in the biggest seizure of illegal wildlife from a home in 11 years. -- FILE PHOTO: AVA

By Khushwant Singh

It was the biggest seizure of illegal wildlife from a home in 11 years and naturally the offender received one of the biggest fines ever meted out for such offences. Ong Ming Shiang, 33, was fined a total of $41,000 on Thursday after pleading guilty to contravening the Endangered Species (Import & Export) Act and the Wild Animals and Birds Act.

Acting on a tip-off, officers of the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority inspected a Housing Board flat in Toa Payoh North on June 3 last year. Among the 32 wildlife and endangered animals seized were three rare ball pythons, two Indian star tortoises, a slow loris, three black-tailed prairie dogs, two sailfin dragons and five ornate horned frogs.

AVA records revealed that the animals were not indigenous and had been brought in without permits. Investigations then revealed some of the animals were given to Ong while others were bought by him. However, no further details were told to the court.

AVA's prosecuting officer, Mr Yap Teck Chuan, also said that there was no evidence linking Ong to any wildlife smuggling syndicate but asked for a heavy fine as there was evidence to show that the animals were for sale.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

 

[Microsoft]

Ah Sam oso keep exotic pet??...

 

[Cipher]

Updated: 02/06/2014 22:40 | By Channel NewsAsia

Man fined record amount for illegal wildlife possession

SINGAPORE: A man was fined S$41,000 on Thursday for the possession of illegal wildlife.

The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore said in a statement that the fine was the highest penalty that had been imposed on an individual for the offence.

Acting on a public tip off, AVA inspected an HDB flat on 3 June 2013, and seized 32 wild animals from the unit.

AVA's investigations showed that all the animals had been imported into Singapore without the relevant import permits.

Furthermore, of the 32 animals, 19 were classified as endangered species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which would require additional CITES import permits from AVA on top of the import permit.

A permit is required for the import and export or re-export of animals to and from Singapore.

As Singapore is a CITES signatory, it is an offence to possess or to trade in any illegally imported or acquired CITES species.

Those found guilty of the offence face a fine of up to S$50,000 per specimen, not exceeding an aggregate of S$500,000.

A jail term of up to two years may also apply. - CNA/al