Airline passenger fined RM50k for trying to smuggle 5 birds

Summary

• An Indonesian man who tried to carry five Asian koel birds in his check-in luggage on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Surabaya on March 10 was fined RM50,000.

• The birds were placed in five PVC pipes inside his bag.

• He pleaded guilty but sought a reduction in the fine, however, this was the minimum fine for the crime.

An Indonesian man was fined RM50,000 after pleading guilty to the charge of attempting to smuggle five Asian koel birds in PVC pipes, in his check-in luggage, on March 10.

Abdul Latif, 48, pleaded guilty before Sepang Sessions Court judge Ahmad Fuad Othman via an interpreter, Berita Harian reported.

The judge also sentenced him to six months in jail if he failed to pay the fine.

According to the charge sheet, he was attempting to board an AirAsia flight at KLIA Terminal 2, to Surabaya, Indonesia.

The birds were discovered after the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) enforcement officers at KLIA inspected his bag at Gate Q7 of the airport at about 9am.

The Asian koel (above), a songbird in high demand on the Indonesian black market, is a protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Act.

Minimum sentence

Abdul Latif was charged under Section 68(1)(a) of the Act, which prohibits hunting, taking, or retaining any part or derivative of totally protected wildlife without a special permit.

The offence carries a minimum fine of RM50,000 and a maximum of RM500,000 or up to three years’ imprisonment.

The father of three school-going children, who was not represented, pleaded with the court to reduce the fine because he was the sole breadwinner for his family in Indonesia.

However, he was reportedly told this was the minimum fine for the offence.

Perhilitan prosecutor Suhaila Ab Rashid also submitted that Abdul Latif committed a serious crime and should be penalised accordingly to send a strong message against wildlife traffickers.

“As the court is aware, wildlife trafficking cases are on the rise year on year and the victims are voiceless against the cruelty and pain inflicted on them.

“This case also involves public interest, given that wildlife is an invaluable treasure which should be conserved,” she reportedly said.

Series of wildlife trafficking cases via KLIA

Three days before Abdul Latif was nabbed at Terminal 2 of KLIA, two Indian citizens managed to smuggle five primates, a civet cat, and two polecats in suitcases from KLIA Terminal 1 to Chennai, India.

The wildlife were found by the Customs Department in Anna International Airport in Chennai.

Two Eastern grey gibbons and one Sumatran white bear palm civet died during the journey.

These were among a spate of wildlife trafficking cases involving airline passengers traveling via KLIA in the past months.

Security checks for check-in luggage is handled entirely by airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), while the Customs Department handles hand-held luggage.

Yesterday, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said these cases are a serious issue and instructed MAHB to buck up and revise their standard operating procedures to prevent wildlife trafficking by airline passengers.

When contacted earlier, MAHB declined to comment on the recent cases and referred Malaysiakini to a 2023 press statement stating that it works with Perhilitan to combat wildlife trafficking, including providing two sniffer dogs.

Minister tells MAHB to buck up amid wave of KLIA wildlife smuggling

Wildlife smuggled on KL-Chennai flight same day minister inspected KLIA2

Airline passenger caught trying to smuggle birds in PVC pipes via KLIA2

Ministry steps up enforcement against wildlife smuggling at KLIA