New Straits Times 24 Jan 11;
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal will hear businessman Anson Wong Keng Liang's appeal against his sentence for illegally exporting 95 reptiles.
A three-man bench led by Datuk Hasan Lah allowed Wong's leave application to appeal against the decision by a High Court.
Wong's counsel Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told reporters that a notice of appeal must be filed within 14 days after leave was obtained.
"However, we will file by today (Monday) for the appeal to be heard as soon as possible," he said.
The Court of Appeal also allowed three questions of law to be ventilated during appeal and judge Datuk Abdul Malik Ishak, a member of the panel, also indicated that the case would be expedited as the issue was on jail term.
On Sept 6, the magistrate's court sentenced Wong to six months' jail and fined him RM190,000 after he pleaded guilty to illegally exporting 95 boa constrictors without a permit at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang at 8.50pm on Aug 26.
Wong, 52, an international wildlife trader, was at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on transit from Penang to Jakarta when the snakes were found in his suitcase.
The prosecution filed an appeal for a heavier sentence following an outcry. On Nov 5, the High Court imposed a five-year jail term and revoked the fine, ordering it to be returned to Wong.
