The suspect was arrested while selling two clouded leopard cubs to a plain-clothed police officer
Banda Aceh (ANTARA) - A man was arrested by the Aceh Police for allegedly selling two protected clouded leopard cubs (neofelis diardi) in Aceh Besar District, Aceh Province.

"The suspect was arrested while selling two clouded leopard cubs to a police officer disguised in plain clothing," Chief of the Criminal Detective Unit of the Banda Aceh Police Resort Adjunct Senior Commissioner M. Taufiq remarked in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh Province, on Thursday.

The 42-year-old man, identified by his initials as HR, was arrested at his residence in Gampong Garot, Darul Imarah Sub-district, Aceh Besar District, on Wednesday (Oct 2) after the police received a tip-off from the public, he revealed.

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Based on the information, the Criminal Detective Unit of the Banda Aceh Police Resort sent its plain-clothed officer to HR on the false pretext of wanting to buy the clouded leopard cubs for Rp300 thousand each.

"The plain-clothed police officer came to HR's house and presented Rp600 thousand to HR. After receiving the money, HR handed over the two clouded leopard cubs in a cardboard box," he stated.

The police then arrested HR and took him to the Banda Aceh Police Resort along with the evidence, he noted.

HR admitted to getting the two clouded leopard cubs from their mother in Babhrot, Aceh Barat Daya District. The protected animal species were taken to his home by L300 pickup. Related news: Security officers rescue endangered animal in West Sumatra

Translator: M.Haris Setiady Agus/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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