(IN): Trial of Czech duo begins in Darjeeling court

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http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080826/jsp/siliguri/story_9742069.jsp

*Trial of Czech duo begins in Darjeeling court*

 

OUR CORRESPONDENT

 

*Darjeeling, Aug 25:* The court of the chief judicial magistrate today

started the trial of Czech scientist Petr Svacha and his associate Emil

Kucera who have been accused of illegally collecting insects from inside the

Singalila National Park.

 

The CJM, U.K Nandi, examined two witnesses — Bharat Kumar Thami, a forest

guard who was present when the Czechs were arrested from a hotel at

Srikhola, about 90km from Darjeeling, on June 22, and Tshering Sherpa, the

owner of the lodge.

 

Thami said on that day the forest team had reached the lodge around 3.30pm

and asked the owner about the two foreigners. " Two of my colleagues stayed

outside while I along with burrababu (forest ranger Arbinden Lepcha, who led

the team) went to one of the rooms (No. 3), " he added.

 

Thami said the forest officials had asked for documents after spotting some

insects packed in " boxes " . When Svacha, the occupant of the room, failed to

show any papers, they went to Room 4 where Kucera was staying.

 

" All their equipment, like axes and hacksaws, were then brought to Kucera's

room where two seizure lists were prepared and I signed on them, " said

Thami.

 

During cross-examination, one of the defence lawyers, Taranga Pandit, wanted

to know if Thami had signed on all the pages of the seizure list. Thami said

he had signed only on the cover pages of the two seizure lists relating to

Svacha and Kucera.

 

Pandit asked Sherpa if his lodge was within the national park. " The hotel is

located outside the national park, " the owner told the court.

 

Some more witnesses are expected to be examined by the court tomorrow,

including Arbinden Lepcha and assistant divisional forest officer Utpal

Kumar Nag. " The charges will be framed on August 27, " said Pandit.

 

Forest officials have booked the Czechs under Sections 9, 27, 29, 35 (6),

39, 49 (B), 56 and 57 of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which largely

pertain to collecting wildlife items without permission. The duo can be

punished under Section 51 of the act. If found guilty, they can be

imprisoned for not less than three years along with a fine.

 

The court will decide whether the charges stand or not after examining the

witnesses. Following that, all witnesses can be cross-examined by the

defence lawyers.

 

Svacha today said he and Kucera were " trying hard to follow the proceedings

of the court " . " It is difficult because of the language problem. "

 

While Svacha can speak English, Kucera does not understand it. Moreover,

both Thami and Sherpa deposed before the court in Nepali and Hindi,

languages that the Czech duo do not follow.

 

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Debasis Chakrabarti <animalcrusader

Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 8:32 AM

Forest dept returns seized money to Czech scientists

AZAM SIDDIQUI <azam24x7

 

 

*

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Forest-dept-returns-seized-money-to-Czec\

h-scientists/353411/

Forest

dept returns seized money to Czech scientists

Express News ServicePosted online: Tuesday , August 26, 2008 at 03:37:02

*

*Kolkata, August 25* The state forest department on Monday returned the

money it had seized from Czech scientists Petr Svacha and Emil Kuchera at

the time of their arrest on June 22.

 

On August 12, Chief Judicial Magistrate U K Nandy had ordered the department

to return the amount.

 

Svacha told The Indian Express over phone: " It is a great relief to get back

the money. " The scientist also expressed concern over the outcome of the

trial and the fact that his visa will expire in September.

 

The prosecution, meanwhile, produced two witnesses before the CJM's court

during the first day of the trial.

 

A forest guard who was present during their arrest at Shrikhola area in

Darjeeling's Singalila National Park appeared before the court. The owner of

Goupara hotel in Shrikhola, Chering Sherpa, also deposed before the court.

Svacha and Kuchera were lodged in the hotel for six days.

 

 

 

 

 

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