(MY) pangolins trade

[Guest guest]

Courts should be tough with them-New Straits Times*15 Jun 2006*

LORETTA ANN SOOSAYRAJ Petaling Jaya <letters

 

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*I REFER to the report where two men pleaded guilty to possessing 137

pangolins in Tanah Merah, Kelantan ( " Pangolin tra- ders plead guilty " — NST,

June 13).

 

*Pangolins are totally protected under the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972.

 

 

Sentencing has been fixed for July 14 and the two men risk a maximum jail

term of three years, a fine of RM3,000 or both on one charge, a jail term of

up to six years, a RM6,000 fine or both on another charge, as well as a

separate charge which carries a jail term of 10 years, a fine of RM10,000 or

both.

 

This means that if the court decides to impose the maximum sentences for

these two wildlife criminals, they could be behind bars for a total of 19

years each and be poorer by RM19,000.

 

The laws provide adequate penalties for these criminals. Now it is up to the

courts to impose these penalties. For illegal wildlife dealers, even the

maximum fines are usually not sufficient punishment.

 

But long custodial sentences could mean the difference. This will ensure

they are physically unable to go back to the business of illegal wildlife

trading and they can spend their time behind bars repenting.

 

And, hopefully, the memory of imprisonment will induce them to never return

to their shady dealings once released.

 

 

 

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*Cruel trade *

 

I REFER to the NST report on the pangolin smugglers. I hope that the two who

pleaded guilty to possessing 137 pangolins in Tanah Merah are given the

maximum sentence.

 

Not only did they break the law, they were cruel to animals and upset the

balance of nature.

 

There have been many seizures of pangolins and turtles from Malaysia in

Thailand. The animals are always in a terrible state. This cruel trade must

stop.

 

LEONIE VEJJAJIVA

 

for Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand