Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia 25 Aug 09;
SINGAPORE: A 58-year-old Indonesian man has been caught for trying to smuggle Mata Puteh birds into Singapore in a box of otah.
The seemingly ordinary box of otah, or barbequed fish cakes, aroused the suspicions of officers at the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal when they heard chirping noises from the box. The officers removed the otah to discover three trays containing 50 live birds.
The incident happened around 1pm on Monday.
Officers said the case has been referred to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) for further investigations.
Mata Puteh birds have distinctive white rings around their eyes, and yellow feathers at their throat. They are also known as Oriental White Eyes.
The importation of live birds without an AVA permit is a violation of the Animals and Birds Act, which carries a maximum penalty of S$10,000. Offenders can also be jailed up to one year.
Chirps from otak otak give smuggler away
Straits Times 27 Aug 09;
AN INDONESIAN man, who declared he was only carrying otak otak (fish cakes) to give to a friend here, was found to be hiding 50 birds among them.
Ho Han Hong, 58, was jailed for three weeks for bringing in the Oriental White Eyes without a permit from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore.
A district court heard yesterday that Ho had arrived on a ferry from Indonesia and disembarked at the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal on Monday afternoon.
An Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer heard the birds chirping when he lifted a plastic bag containing the otak otak that was inside the cardboard box Ho was carrying.
He found the 50 birds packed in three green trays.
Ho confessed he had brought the birds, also known as Mata Puteh, from Tanjong Pinang to be delivered to a bird-shop owner in Bedok.
He was to receive $500 for the delivery of the birds, which are prized for their singing ability.
Import of any birds from Indonesia is prohibited because of the bird flu outbreak there.
The maximum penalty for the offence is a $10,000 fine and a year in jail.
KHUSHWANT SINGH
- CNA/yt
