By Olivia Miwil
TUARAN: A local was arrested for selling protected wildlife parts at a stall in the Tenghilan weekly market here.
Sabah Wildlife director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said that the arrest was made when the dpartment's Rapid Response Team (RRT) acted on intelligence information regarding the sale of wildlife parts in the area at 850am.
"During the operation, several suspected protected wildlife parts that were being displayed for illegal sale were seized.
"Among the items confiscated were two sun bear claws, one sun bear paw, one sun bear tooth, one pangolin scale, one barking deer antler, and 16 porcupine quills," he said in a statement.
The 30-year-old man was detained for further investigation under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 (WCE 1997).
Under the WCE 1997, any trade involving protected wildlife must obtain a valid licence or permit issued by the Sabah Wildlife Department.
"However, no permits are issued for the trade, possession or storage of sun bear and pangolin species, as both are classified as Totally Protected species," Mohd Soffian added.
"Therefore, any individual found possessing, storing, selling or trading these species or any of their parts without authorisation is committing an offence under the WCE 1997.
"If convicted, the offender may face a fine of not less than RM50,000 and not more than RM250,000, and imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than five years".
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