The three Filipinos jailed, fined for possessing Green Turtle derivatives.
KOTA MARUDU (May 26): Three Filipinos were each sentenced to one year in jail and fined RM220,000 for possessing green turtle derivatives, with an additional eight months’ imprisonment if they fail to pay the fine.
Sessions Court judge Akhiruddin Acho handed down the sentence after the trio pleaded guilty to possessing an estimated 865kg of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) derivatives, stored in 39 sacks and 14 boxes.
On Sept 27, 2023, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officers arrested them in Sabah waters near Simpang Mengayau, Kudat.
The case was later transferred to the Sabah Wildlife Department for further investigation and prosecution.
The accused — Erwin Monares Comendo, 39; Rudyzon Darol Infante, 37; and Arnel Meniano Getes, 52 — were charged under Section 41(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which imposes stricter penalties for possessing fully protected wildlife derivatives.
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