Boas, vipers and mata-mata turtle among smuggler’s loot

[chowka]

Sunday August 29, 2010

Boas, vipers and mata-mata turtle among smuggler’s loot

By TEH ENG HOCK
[email protected]

mata-mata turtle

PETALING JAYA: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Per_hilitan) has confirmed detaining international wildlife trader Anson Wong at the KL International Airport (KLIA) on Aug 26. Wong’s luggage broke on the conveyor belt and, upon inspection by Malaysia Airlines personnel, many snakes and a turtle were found, the department said in a press statement yesterday. Perhilitan was then contacted and officers found 95 boa constrictors, two rhinoceros vipers and a mata-mata turtle.

The statement said Wong would be remanded until Aug 31 to facilitate investigation. It is learnt that he was on transit from Penang to Jakarta when he was caught. He has a record for wildlife trafficking and was jailed in the United States for 71 months in 2000. The statement added that the boa constrictor was listed in Appendix II of the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 and Wong could be fined a maximum of RM100,000 for each animal or imprisoned up to seven years or both.

Wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC and World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia want the authorities to probe Wong for trading illegally in wildlife. Commending the authorities on the arrest of Wong, they urged Malaysia to strictly enforce the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008, a legislation that regulates international trade of wild animals and plants.

“This matter cannot be taken lightly. Malaysia must rise to the challenge to rival those fearlessly involved in wildlife smuggling. “Their attempt at mocking Malaysia’s legal system must be dealt with head-on. “There is no excuse to be lax on a criminal offence of any nature,” said TRAFFIC South_east Asia senior programme officer Kanitha Krishnasamy.

WWF Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Dr Dionysious Sharma said that as a convicted wildlife smuggler, Wong should be given the maximum penalty under the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) Act, including revoking all his permits to trade wildlife if found guilty. “We look forward to the Wildlife Department and the Malaysian judiciary working together to prosecute this offender to the full extent of the law,” he said.

 

[david]

What a luggage the person has

 

[Cao Pi]

Anson Wong jailed 6 mths, fined RM190,000 for illegal snake export


Published: Monday September 6, 2010 MYT 12:42:00 PM
Updated: Monday September 6, 2010 MYT 1:05:06 PM

Anson Wong jailed 6 mths, fined RM190,000 for illegal snake export

By YUEN MEI KENG

SEPANG: The Sessions Court on Monday sentenced businessman Anson Wong to six months jail and fined him RM190,000 for illegally exporting 95 boa constrictor snakes. His jail sentence starts Monday. When questioned by Judge Zulhelmy Hasan, Wong, 52, said he did not have an export permit because his customer had insisted on having the snakes before Hari Raya.

Defence counsel M.Sivam applied to the court for the return of Wong's laptop and handphone but the judge rejected the application. Senior legal adviser for the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, Faridz Gohim Abdullah told the court that the laptop contained information about alleged related illegal activities.

Wong is believed to be an international wildlife trader. On Wednesday, Anson Wong, whose real name is Wong Keng Liang, admitted to exporting 95 Boa Constrictor - which is endangered species - without permit at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 8.50pm on Aug 26. The snakes were found in a luggage bag while Wong was in transit from Penang to Jakarta.

The Star had reported in February that Wong had been linked to a Dec 15 seizure in the United States of various types of animals from an exotic animal outlet. Two of the trader’s companies were found to have been supplying animals to the outlet.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) had claimed that CBS Wildlife and Sungai Rusa Wildlife, both owned by Wong, were supplying various types of animals and wildlife to US Global Exotics (USGE). Wong pleaded guilty to trafficking in wildlife in the US and was sentenced to 71 months jail in 2000.

 

[chowka]

Lizard King jailed, Penang wildlife dept head transferred


Tuesday September 7, 2010

Lizard King jailed, Penang wildlife dept head transferred

SEPANG: Always elusive, wildlife trafficker Anson Wong — described as the “Pablo Escobar of the wildlife trade” — was jailed six months and fined a total of RM190,000 for smuggling 95 snakes without a permit. The Lizard King, as he is known in the United States, was caught at the KL International Airport on Aug 26 while trying to smuggle boa constrictors without a permit to Jakarta.

He pleaded guilty to committing the offence. This is the first time the 52-year-old Penangite has been sentenced in Malaysia. He was arrested and prosecuted in the Uni_ted States in June 2001, when he was handed a 71-month jail term and fined US$60,000 (RM187,000) for wildlife trafficking.

 

[Cao Pi]

Penang wildlife dept boss transferred


Tuesday September 7, 2010

Penang wildlife dept boss transferred

PETALING JAYA: Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas said his ministry would appeal and seek a tougher penalty against international wildlife trafficker Anson Wong. “I believe Wong got off lightly. “My ministry will appeal for an appropriate penalty for a man who has a clear conviction record abroad,” he told The Star, adding that he would soon meet NGOs to eradicate loopholes in traffic enforcement.

In George Town, news of the transfer of the Penang National Park and Wildlife Department director to another state effective on Oct 1 became a hot topic among the employees of the state office. Uggah confirmed that the director would be transferred to Terengganu but he declined to elaborate on the reasons to transfer the director. A Wildlife Department official said the news came as a surprise to staff in the office yesterday morning.

“Everyone was puzzled as to why he should be transferred at such short notice,” said the official. “The director will be on holiday during Hari Raya and will continue with his leave prior to the transfer.” The director was posted to Penang in 2006 when he was promoted to the post of state National Park director. Prior to that he was a senior officer at the department’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

 

[lauhumku]

Snake Smuggler Jailed Over Boas In Baggage


Snake Smuggler Jailed Over Boas In Baggage

5:09pm Monday September 06, 2010
Andy Winter

A notorious wildlife trafficker has been caught trying to smuggle nearly 100 live boa constrictors into Indonesia after his bag broke at an airport.
<!-- VIDEO PLAYER START --> <!---->

The snakes were found in Anson Wong's bag

Malaysian Anson Wong - nicknamed the Lizard King - was stopped by security officials at Kuala Lumpur airport after his luggage split open on a conveyer belt. As well as 95 live endangered boa constrictors, two rhinoceros vipers and a matamata turtle were also found inside his bag. Wong has now been jailed for six months and fined £40,000 - but campaigners have denounced the sentence as a "tragedy".

Two rhinoceros vipers and a matamata turtle were also discovered

The 52-year-old could have been locked up for seven years and faced fines of £40,000 per snake. He has already served a 71-month prison term in the United States for trafficking wildlife. William Schaedla of Traffic, a wildlife trade monitoring organisation, said: "(The sentence) clearly tells wildlife traffickers that they have little to fear from Malaysian law. "This is a tragedy."

 

[chowka]

Appeal filed against Anson Wong's sentence


Published: Wednesday September 8, 2010 MYT 10:20:00 AM
Updated: Wednesday September 8, 2010 MYT 10:26:22 AM

Appeal filed against Anson Wong's sentence

BY LOURDES CHARLES

PETALING JAYA: The Attorney-General's Chambers has filed an appeal against the sentenced meted out to "Lizard King" Anson Wong for smuggling snakes. The appeal is seeking for a heavier sentence against Wong, who was jailed six months and fined a total of RM190,000 by the Sepang Sessions Court for smuggling 95 snakes without a permit.

This is the first time the 52-year-old Penangite, who was caught at the KL International Airport on Aug 26 while trying to smuggle the boa constrictors to Jakarta, has been sentenced in Malaysia. Various conservation groups had expressed disappointment with the sentence, saying that Malaysia shoudl show that it was serious in tackling wildlife trafficking.

 

[Cao Pi]

Wednesday September 8, 2010

Wildlife trade is still roaring

By YUEN MEIKENG
[email protected]

PETALING JAYA: Wildlife trafficker Anson Wong may be behind bars, but an animal collector claims several pet shops in the Klang Valley are still receiving their supply from sources related to him. Nicholas Lee (not his real name), who has a collection of over 50 exotic pets, claimed that a pet shop owner told him that its supply of wild animals would not be cut off although Wong had been sentenced to six months in jail.

“In my years of collecting exotic animals, the pet shops that I frequent told me they received their supplies from Penang. “It is a fact that there is only one wildlife supplier in Penang – Anson Wong,” said the 33-year-old, who started his hobby by keeping a few iguanas when he was in Form Four. Lee, a marketing manager, said his pets were obtained legally and he had licences for each of them.

Slimy smuggler: Wong being led away from the Sepang Sessions Court on Monday. (Inset) The snakes found in his luggage.

His exotic collection includes snakes, frogs, lizards and tarantula spiders. Lee said wildlife collectors kept such animals because it was fascinating to see how they grew and behaved. On Monday, Wong — described as the ‘’Pablo Escobar of the wildlife trade’’ — was jailed six months and fined a total of RM190,000 for smuggling 95 snakes without a permit.

Wong was caught at the KL International Airport on Aug 26 while trying to smuggle boa constrictors without a permit to Jakarta. He pleaded guilty to the offence. Natural Resources and Envi_ronment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas said his ministry would appeal and seek a tougher penalty against Wong as he believed the wildlife trafficker got off lightly.

The ministry’s senior legal adviser, Faridz Gohim Abdullah, who acted for the prosecution in Wong’s case, said the ministry should file their appeal within 14 days after the date of sentencing. “However, this matter is now being handled by the Attorney-General’s Chambers,” he said. Wong’s lawyer, M. Sivam, said he had yet to receive instructions from his client to appeal against his sentence.

 

[lauhumku]

Wednesday September 8, 2010

A tame punishment

THE STAR SAYS . . .

WE had a chance to severely punish a notorious wildlife trader and send a signal that we mean business in repairing our unwelcome reputation as an international hub for this illegal trade. But we blew it. The penalty meted out by the courts to Anson Wong is a mere slap on the wrist, and reflects our inability to get tough with wildlife criminals.

When enacted, the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 had drawn applause for its harsh penalties: a whopping maximum fine of RM100,000for each animal smuggled. Unfortunately, Wong was fined only RM2,000 for each of the 95 boa constrictors stuffed into his suitcase. So he got away with a RM190,000 fine – an amount which the businessman could easily cough out – instead of what could have been a deterrent penalty of close to RM1mil.

The fines pale in comparison with the market price of boa constrictors of between RM200 and RM4,000 each on the Internet. His jail term of six months is also disappointing as the Act provides for a maximum of seven years. Paltry penalties have always been a scourge in the war against wildlife trafficking. The newly implemented Act is meant to overcome this. But when it comes to sentencing, the ball is in the court of the presiding judge.

And it appears the seriousness of wildlife crime is not being fully appreciated despite the Asean Wildlife Enforcement Network and the Federal Courts of Malaysia holding a two-day workshop specifically for the judiciary last year. Wong had an import permit to bring the snakes into Penang but not re-export permits to Indonesia. So he was caught on a technicality. But closer scrutiny reveals unanswered questions. Isn’t it illegal to pack live animals into checked-in luggage under International Air Transport

Association rules, not to mention endanger the lives of passengers? And what about the fact that Wong has a previous conviction in the United States, which landed him 71 months in jail and fined US$60,000 (RM187,000). The man who has earned the monikers “Asian wildlife kingpin” and “Pablo Escobar of the wildlife trade” also had two rhinoceros vipers and a matamata turtle in his bag but there was no case here as these are not trade-regulated species.

Also, the charge against Wong did not specify the sub-species of boa constrictors. All boa constrictors, except for one sub-species, come under Appendix II of the Conven-tion on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites); this means they can be traded, but with permits. Only an expert can differentiate between the sub-species, so what if Wong’s boa constrictors were actually the Appendix I sub-species, the Boa constrictor occidentalis, which is banned from trade?

Perhilitan (Wildlife and National Parks Department) could have built a stronger case if it knew for sure. And did Perhilitan investigate the source of the boa constrictors? Were they really captive-bred as claimed by Wong, and not wild-caught? Dealers routinely use the description “captive-bred” in order to obtain permits, so there could be another offence here.

Yet another unanswered question is why a convicted wildlife trafficker still holds permits to keep and trade in endangered animals. Perhilitan should immediately revoke all licences issued to Wong. For sure, Wong’s “bag act” is not the first. Wildlife crime investigators say stuffing animals in luggage is the smugglers’ preferred modus operandi, along with concealment in shipments of legally approved animals.

Unlike birds which can be noisy, reptiles are usually not drugged when packed into bags. But the animals will surely show up in airport X-ray scanners. So how did Wong’s bag get through the Penang airport security? We need to ask ourselves: Should we condone the trading and keeping of wild animals? Or is it too much to expect Malaysians to care? On the whole, we don’t particularly treat domesticated animals well, so what more creatures of the wild.

 

[SwineHunter]

Wednesday September 8, 2010

Probe on how Wong boarded plane with snakes

By Christina Chin
[email protected]

GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is still trying to solve the mystery of how wildlife trafficker Anson Wong managed to board a flight at Penang International Airport with a bag full of snakes. “I cannot give you the details of the investigation but we will try to complete it as soon as possible,” said MAHB senior general manager (operations services) Datuk Azmi Murad.

Ninety-five boa constrictors, two rhinoceros vipers and a matamata turtle were found by baggage handlers in Wong’s check-in suitcase during his transit through KLIA from Penang on a flight bound for Jakar_ta. The snakes were found in containers wrapped in sarong. Wong was arrested on Aug 26. He was jailed six months and fined RM190,000 on Monday for smuggling 95 snakes.

State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh called for transparency and urged the Malay_sian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the alleged involvement of a high-ranking officer from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks with the wildlife dealer. Known as the “Pablo Escobar of the wildlife trade”, Wong had earlier been linked to the proposed tiger park initiated by the Penang government.

Two Bengal tigers allegedly belonging to Wong were previously kept at the Bukit Jambul Hibiscus, Orchids and Reptile Farm but have been moved to a private location. They will eventually be housed in a reptile garden in the forest reserve. Phee said the state government had no dealings with Wong. “All our facilities at the forest reserve are ready but we have yet to move the reptiles and tigers there because we want to make sure that everything is done legally. State MACC director Datuk Latifah Md Yatim could not be reached for comment.

 

[Darth Vader]

Wildlife officials seize Anson Wong's Bengal tigers


Published: Friday October 8, 2010 MYT 10:27:00 AM
Updated: Friday October 8, 2010 MYT 11:04:08 AM

Wildlife officials seize Anson Wong's Bengal tigers

By JOSEPHINE SALLEH

BALIK PULAU: The National Parks and Wildlife Department (Perhilitan) has seized the two Bengal tigers owned by convicted wildlife smuggler Anson Wong from his private farm in Teluk Bahang here. Ten officers from the department and Malacca zoo officials were involved in the operation, which started at 9.30am Friday.

They managed to carry out the first tiger in a cage about half an hour later. The second tiger, which is much bigger than the first one, was moved out of its enclosure at 10.15am. Both animals were tranquilised before they were taken out from the enclosure.

A crocodile, wrapped and tied in a gunny sack, was carried out in a tub some five minutes later. Around 10.50am, four wildcats were carried out in metal cages. Department officials were expected to continue their operation to seize other animals, giant tortoises and snakes at Wong’s 1.6ha orchard later Friday.

 

[Darth Vader]

Appeal for heavier sentence against wildlife smuggler moved to Oct 29


Published: Friday October 8, 2010 MYT 10:07:00 AM
Updated: Friday October 8, 2010 MYT 10:31:30 AM

Appeal for heavier sentence against wildlife smuggler moved to Oct 29

By ONG HAN SEAN

SHAH ALAM: The High Court here has postponed to Oct 29, an application for a heavier sentence against convicted wildlife trafficker Anson Wong. Wong's new counsel Datuk Shafee Abdullah requested for the postponement Friday, saying he had just received the appeal records in the morning and needed more time to study them. "They are expecting me to argue it today. This is completely unjustified," Shafee told reporters outside the court.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar objected to the request for postponement, saying the case was in the public's interest. He also said he had received the records on Wednesday but was prepared to argue the appeal Friday. Wong, 52, from Penang and whose real name is Wong Keng Liang, was caught at the KL International Airport on Aug 26 trying to smuggle boa constrictors to Jakarta.

He was sentenced to six month's jail and fined a total of RM190,000 on Sept 6 by the Sepang Sessions Court for smuggling 95 snakes without a permit. On Sept 8, the Attorney-General's Chambers filed an appeal for a heavier sentence against Wong. Various conservation groups had expressed disappointment with the sentence, saying Malaysia should show that it was serious in tackling wildlife trafficking.

 

[Muthukali]

Anson wong, king of exotic animal...........

 

[Xing Cai]

Wildlife seized from Wong’s private ‘zoo’


Saturday October 9, 2010

Wildlife seized from Wong’s private ‘zoo’

By JOSEPHINE JALLEH
[email protected]

Big cat-ch National Parks and Wildlife Department officers carrying a sedated Bengal tiger owned by convicted wildlife smuggler Anson Wong from a private fruit orchard in Penang yesterday.

BALIK PULAU: The National Parks and Wildlife Department (Perhilitan) has seized the two endangered Bengal tigers owned by convicted wildlife smuggler Anson Wong from a private fruit orchard in Teluk Bahang near here. They also removed a 1.52m-long crocodile, four wildcats and six pythons from the 1.6ha orchard which is believed to be owned by Wong’s family. Ten department officers and Malacca zoo officials were involved in the operation yesterday morning.

Slithery rescue: Perhilitan officers and Malacca zoo
officials loading the pythons onto a Unit Pengurusan Gajah (Elephant Management Unit) lorry near Wong’s private farm in Teluk Bahang yesterday.

Another Perhilitan team went to Wong’s office in Jones Road in George Town where they seized about 20 snakes from 9am to noon. The seizure at the orchard drew much attention with media personnel arriving as early as 7.30am to wait for the tigers to be carried out of the premises. Village folk and passers-by also lingered in the area with their cameras in hand ready to snap pictures of the endangered species.

Crocodile lock: Perhilitan officers trying to get a grip on the crocodile rescued in yesterday’s operation.

As the first tiger was carried out in a cage at 10am, there was a commotion when everyone tried to close-in to take photos of it. The second tiger, which was much bigger than the first one, was moved out of its enclosure at 10.15am. All the animals were sent to the Penang National Park where over 50 other animals seized on Thursday, belonging to Wong and his wife, were placed temporarily. The animals seized on Thursday were birds, snakes and monitor lizards.

 

[Keiji Maeda]

Appeal for heavier sentence put off to Oct 29


Saturday October 9, 2010

Appeal for heavier sentence put off to Oct 29

By ONG HAN SEAN
[email protected]

SHAH ALAM: The High Court here has postponed to Oct 29 an application for a heavier sentence against convicted wildlife trafficker Anson Wong.

Wong, 52, (below) was brought to the High Court in Shah Alam yesterday for an application by the prosecution for a heavier sentence to be meted out on him.

Justice Mohtarudin Baki set the new date after Wong’s new counsel Datuk Seri Muham_mad Shafee Abdullah requested for the postponement yesterday. Muhammad Shafee said he had just received a copy of the appeal records in the morning and needed more time to study them. “They are expecting me to argue it today. This is completely unjustified,” Muhammad Shafee told reporters outside the court. Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar objected to the request for postponement, saying the case was of public interest.

He said he had also received the records on Wednesday. Wong, 52, whose full name is Wong Keng Liang, was arrested at the KLIA on Aug 26 trying to smuggle 95 boa constrictors to Jakarta. Wong, who is from Penang, was sentenced to six month’s jail and fined RM190,000 on Sept 6 by the Sepang Sessions Court for smuggling the endangered snakes without a permit. On Sept 8, the Attorney-General’s Chambers filed an appeal, asking for a heavier sentence.

 

[Red 5]

Anson Wong slapped with five-year jail term


Published: Thursday November 4, 2010 MYT 9:59:00 AM
Updated: Thursday November 4, 2010 MYT 10:00:45 AM

Anson Wong slapped with five-year jail term

SHAH ALAM: Convicted wildlife smuggler Anson Wong has been slapped with a five-year jail term, after a High Court here allowed an appeal filed by the Attorney-General's Chambers for a heavier sentence against him. The court also ordered for a fine of RM190,000, imposed on Wong in a previous judgement by a Sessions Court judge, to be returned to him.

 

[Masamune Date]

Five-year jail term for Anson lauded


Sunday November 7, 2010

Five-year jail term for Anson lauded

PETALING JAYA: The High Court’s decision to increase wildlife smuggler Anson Wong Keng Liang’s jail sentence to five years was a positive move that should be applauded, said the Bar Council. Its president Ragunath Kesavan said: “It is good that the judiciary has come down hard on this matter as it sends out a strong message to the people.”

Wong, 52, was found guilty of illegally exporting boa constrictors on Sept 6 by the Sepang Sessions Court and was initially sentenced to six months’ jail and a RM190,000 fine. Authorities had discovered 95 boa constrictors crammed into a small bag when Wong was caught at 8.50pm at the KL International Airport on Aug 26.

The judgment drew hot protests from non-governmental organisations and the public that resulted in the prosecution filing an appeal for a heavier sentence. Environment and animal rights groups lauded the heavier sentence meted out against Wong.

Malaysian Nature Society expressed hope that the sentence would be a strong deterrent to those involved in illegal trading and smuggling. Its head of communications Andrew Sebastian said: “Justice seems to have been carried out at last. We thank the High Court for the positive and important judgment. “We hope this example will set a precedent.”

TRAFFIC Southeast Asia regional director William Schaedla also welcomed the judgment, saying he hoped other South-East Asian countries would take notice of the ruling. “This is a great start. We hope Malaysia’s new ‘get-tough’ stance will continue with investigations and convictions of other large-scale wildlife smugglers still operating in the country,” he said.

High Court Judge Datuk Mohtarudin Baki ordered that the RM190,000 fine be returned to Wong after his jail-term was ex-tended as he had pleaded guilty. Wong had previously served 71 months in a US jail in 1998 after pleading guilty to 40 counts of smuggling, conspiracy, money-laundering and violations of wildlife protection law.

 

[kellyj994]

Re: Anson Wong jailed 6 mths, fined RM190,000 for illegal snake export

Published: Monday September 6, 2010 MYT 12:42:00 PM
Updated: Monday September 6, 2010 MYT 1:05:06 PM

Anson Wong jailed 6 mths, fined RM190,000 for illegal snake export

By YUEN MEI KENG

SEPANG: The Sessions Court on Monday sentenced businessman Anson Wong to six months jail and fined him RM190,000 for illegally exporting 95 boa constrictor snakes. His jail sentence starts Monday. When questioned by Judge Zulhelmy Hasan, Wong, 52, said he did not have an export permit because his customer had insisted on having the snakes before Hari Raya.

Defence counsel M.Sivam applied to the court for the return of Wong's laptop and handphone but the judge rejected the application. Senior legal adviser for the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, Faridz Gohim Abdullah told the court that the laptop contained information about alleged related illegal activities.

Wong is believed to be an international wildlife trader. On Wednesday, Anson Wong, whose real name is Wong Keng Liang, admitted to exporting 95 Boa Constrictor - which is endangered species - without permit at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 8.50pm on Aug 26. The snakes were found in a luggage bag while Wong was in transit from Penang to Jakarta.

The Star had reported in February that Wong had been linked to a Dec 15 seizure in the United States of various types of animals from an exotic animal outlet. Two of the trader’s companies were found to have been supplying animals to the outlet.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) had claimed that CBS Wildlife and Sungai Rusa Wildlife, both owned by Wong, were supplying various types of animals and wildlife to US Global Exotics (USGE). Wong pleaded guilty to trafficking in wildlife in the US and was sentenced to 71 months jail in 2000.

Great post! It's very nice. Thank you so much for your post.