30 weeks' jail for man who smuggled 11 puppies into Singapore

Channel NewsAsia 7 Jun 17;

SINGAPORE — A 43-year-old man, Ravichandran Muthusamy, was sentenced to 30 weeks' jail on Wednesday (June 7), after he had tried to smuggle 11 puppies into Singapore in March this year, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a statement.

Ravichandran was also jailed for 20 weeks for subjecting the puppies to unnecessary pain or suffering. Both sentences will run concurrently.

On March 23, the 11 puppies were found hidden in a modified fuel tank of a car driven by Ravichandran at Woodlands Checkpoint.

Investigations by AVA revealed that Ravichandran had been commissioned to smuggle the puppies to an unknown person in Singapore.

No food or water was provided for the puppies in the modified compartment of the car, which was cramped.

AVA added that the 11 puppies are being cared for and quarantined at its facilities.

The importation of any animals or live birds without an AVA permit is illegal and carries a maximum penalty of S$10,000, or imprisonment of up to one year, or both.