Malaysia: Two arrested for trying to sell endangered pangolin

ruben sario The Star 26 Oct 17;

KOTA KINABALU: An endangered pangolin was saved from uncertain fate when it was seized from two men who were trying to sell it off.

Sabah Wildlife Department personnel arrested the men, aged 25 and 27, from Papar at Tanjung Lipat near here.

Department director Augustine Tuuga said the men were trying to sell the animal, which was in a weakened state and weighed some 1.9kg, for RM150 per kg.

"They are being detained for investigation under Section 41(2) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 for illegal possession of a protected species," he said late Thursday.

"The pangolin was found in a container placed on the back seat of their car," Tuuga said.

"According to the informer, a man with the name 'Mastang Roy' was advertising the sale of the pangolin through social media," he added.

Those in illegal possession of pangolins are liable to a minimum fine of not less than RM30,000 but not exceeding RM100,000, or jail of not less than one year but not exceeding three years, or both on conviction.


Two men detained in the act of selling live pangolin
KRISTY INUS New Straits Times 26 Oct 17;

KOTA KINABALU: Two men were arrested at Likas here when they tried selling a live pangolin this afternoon.

The suspects aged 25 and 27 years old from Papar, were caught at 1:30pm with the animal in a container at the back seat of their Proton Saga.

They were detained for investigation under section 41(2) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 for illegal possession of a protected species.

“The arrest was made near Anjung Selera, Tanjung Lipat, as they were trying to sell the animal to their customer.

“Acting on a tip-off from the public, an enforcement team from Sabah Wildlife Department was dispatched to the location where the transaction was supposed to take place,” said Department director Augustine Tuuga.

According to the information from the informer, a man with the name ‘Mastang Roy’ was advertising to sell the pangolin through the social media, he revealed in a statement.

“They were trying to sell the pangolin at RM150 per kilogramme.

“The pangolin weighs 1.9 kg and was in a very weak condition when confiscated by the enforcement team,” he said.

Illegal possession of pangolin is liable to minimum fine of not less than RM30,000 but not exceeding RM100,000 or a jail term of not less than one year but not exceeding three years, or both, upon conviction.

The Sunda pangolin or Manis javanica is listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 of Sabah’s Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 which allows the hunting of the animal with a permit.

The government however is in the process of elevating the status of pangolins as totally protected species.

“It is already approved by the State Cabinet but cannot be enforced until it is gazetted … in the process,” said Augustine.