TAWAU: A local man was sentenced to a total of 60 months’ jail by the Sessions Court here on Thursday for having a pig-tailed macaque and a pangolin without a valid licence.
Jufrie Abu, 42, was sentenced by Judge Ahmad Faizadh Yahaya after he pleaded guilty to both charges.
The court ordered him to serve the sentences concurrently — 36 months for having the pangolin and 24 months for having the macaque.
The offences were committed at Kg Kalumpang, Jalan Tawau-Semporna, at about 11pm on June 10, this year.
The Sabah Wildlife Department (JHL) found a pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) and a pangolin (Manis javanica) in Jufrie’s possession without a valid licence.
Both species are protected under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, and possession without a valid licence is an offence.
The prosecution was conducted by Sabah Prosecuting Officer Primus Lambut, while Jufrie was unrepresented.
Meanwhile, JHL said in a statement that stern action would continue to be taken against those found having or dealing in protected wildlife without a valid licence.
The public was also urged not to illegally possess or trade in protected wildlife and to channel information on such activities to JHL Sabah for further action.
