$3,000 fine for feeding monkeys

Straits Times 13 May 09;

A HOUSEWIFE was fined $3,000 yesterday for feeding sweets to wild monkeys at a nature reserve in Mandai.

Xiao Lexiang, 37, admitted to having thrown sweets from a vehicle at the monkeys at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve along the Old Upper Thomson access road on Feb 23 last year.

She was caught in the act by Certis Cisco officers doing their inspection rounds at the nature reserve that afternoon.

In May last year, High Court judge V.K. Rajah stated while hearing an appeal that all future such offenders would be fined $3,000 as a starting point. The fines could be higher or lower, depending on the circumstances of each case.

The judge said there was a need to send a clear message that feeding monkeys increases the risk of them behaving aggressively.

Xiao could have been fined up to $50,000 and/or jailed for up to six months.