Sexagenarian to enter defence over wildlife possession in Sabah

 By Olivia Miwil - July 15, 2021 @ 3:23pm

Chung En Kin, 66 (right) to enter defence on Aug 11 for possessing wildlife illegally. - NSTP/ Ersie Anjumin

KOTA KINABALU: The Sessions Court today ordered a sexagenarian to enter his defence on Aug 11 for possessing wildlife illegally.

Judge Elsie Primus said the prosecution had proven a prima facie case against Chung En Kin, 66, for three charges.

On April 18 at 2.50pm, Chung committed the offence under Section 41(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 for possessing 36.10 kilogrammes of banteng (Bos javanicus) meat at a jewellery shop in Kota Belud.

The accused was also found with 4.8 kilogrammes of Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) meat, its four legs weighing 3.4 kilogrammes and an antler; as well as five flying foxes (Pteropus vampyrus).

Unless with written permission from a minister, it is illegal to have a banteng, also known as tembadau, which is a totally protected animal according to Schedule 1, Amendment 2002, no 10 of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.

As for keeping Sambar deer and flying foxes without permits, Chung committed the offence under Section 41(2) of the same Enactment.

Chung's counsel is Sylyester Kuan and prosecuting officer Abdul Karim Dakog represented the Sabah Wildlife Department.

Six prosecution witnesses were produced by the prosecution during the prosecution's stage while two or three witnesses including the accused will testify for the defence stage.