One Singaporean jailed, another fined for smuggling birds, reptiles

Channel NewsAsia 8 Apr 15;

SINGAPORE: Two local men were sentenced on Wednesday (Apr 8) for illegally smuggling animals into Singapore, according to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore.

In the first case, a 38-year-old man was sentenced to three months' jail for importing 12 birds into Singapore from Vietnam without the relevant licence. He faces another three months' jail for subjecting the birds to unnecessary suffering or pain, and both sentences will run concurrently, the agencies said.

The illegal import of the birds was detected on Nov 2, 2014, after the man arrived on a flight from Ho Chi Minh City. The 12 birds - nine White-rumped Sharma, two Red Whiskered Bulbul and one Magpie Robin - were concealed individually in customised PVC pipes and were not given food and water.

Eight of the birds died subsequently, while the other four are with the Jurong Bird Park, the agencies added.

FINED FOR SMUGGLING REPTILES

The other Singaporean man, also 38, was found to have hidden one bearded dragon and an iguana in the spare tyre compartment on Mar 25. He was issued a composition fine of S$5,000 on Wednesday after being convicted under the Wild Animals and Birds Act, the press release said.

The accused had purchased the reptiles from Malaysia and brought them into Singapore as his personal pets. The reptiles were confiscated and were subsequently sent to Wildlife Reserves Singapore for care and custody, it added.

AVA also reminded the public against bringing live animals or birds into Singapore without a permit. There are strict regulatory requirements for such imports due to animal health reasons and to prevent the introduction of diseases, especially Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) or bird flu, according to the agency.

- CNA/hs