Cook charged after live pangolin, exotic dishes seized at Semporna resort

A 45-year-old local man (third from left) was charged under Section 41(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 for unlawful possession of any protected animal or its products without a valid permit or license - PIC COURTESY OF SABAH WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT

SEMPORNA: Authorities have confirmed a second offence involving the serving of exotic wildlife dishes at a resort here.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said the first offence occurred on Sept 11 last year.

"However, the investigating officer has not yet been able to prosecute them, as the DNA analysis involving several protected species had only just been completed," he said.

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For the second offence, a Malaysian and two Chinese nationals were arrested during a raid last month.

"One individual was charged at the Tawau Sessions Court today," he told the New Straits Times.

Following instructions from the prosecution, only a 45-year-old local man was charged under Section 41(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.

The two Chinese nationals were not charged.

Commenting on the latest seizure, Soffian said authorities also confiscated one live pangolin and two pots of soup suspected to contain chopped wildlife products, believed to be a mixture of pangolin, turtle and chicken meat.

Regarding species identification, Soffian said DNA analysis is still ongoing.

He added that this marks the second offence linked to the resort.

"The resort holds a business licence, but it had expired and is currently undergoing the renewal process," he said.