All evidence has been incinerated by the prosecutor's office of Agam District
Lubukbasung, W Sumatra (ANTARA) - Agam District's Natural Resources and Conservation Office in West Sumatra Province had revealed three instances of illegal trading in protected and endangered animals from January to October 2019, an official confirmed here, Friday. Following the arrest of four suspects, the Conservation Office and Agam District Police seized four heads of wild goats (Capra aegagrus), 11 skins of wild goats, two heads of Rhinos (Rhinoceros sondaicus), a head of false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii), two heads of deer (Cervidae), and some protected plants such as black coral (Antiphates Sp), the office's ecosystem controller in Lubukbasung city, Ade Putra, stated.

All evidence has been incinerated by the prosecutor's office of Agam District, Putra explained.

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However, the conservation office has released into their habitat some endangered species that they rescued from the suspects. The protected animals include four birds and few crocodiles.

Meanwhile, the four suspects with initials S (71), BS (57), SE (37), and AW (36), had been sentenced for their crimes, he added.

"The court has sentenced S to 18 months in prison, while AW received a seven-month jail term. The other two suspects, BS and SW, were each sentenced to five months in jail," Putra explained.

As per Law No. 5, Year 1990 on Natural Resources Conservation, no one is allowed to hold protected animals captive, kill them, or trade in them.

Trading in body parts of protected animals is also illegal in Indonesia. Anyone violating the law could face a maximum of five years in prison, and a fine of maximum Rp100 million (US$7,071.55).

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Translator: Altas Maulana/Genta Tenri Mawa
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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