Three men, including two brothers, were each fined RM250,000 and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment by the Sessions Court here today for possessing the carcass of a female Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) without a special permit last week.
Judge Hayda Faridzal Abu Hasan handed down the sentence after all three accused – Md Shaheezam Md Salim, 49; Nazerin Tomiran, 47; and Mohamad Nazrol Tomiran, 28 – pleaded guilty when the separate charges were read out to them.
According to the charge sheet, the trio jointly kept the carcass of the protected female tiger in the rear compartment of a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) without a special permit. The Malayan tiger is a fully protected species under the Tenth Schedule of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).
The offence was committed at a petrol station in Felda Tenggaroh, Mersing, around 6.10am on 16 September. They were charged under Section 70(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum fine of RM250,000 for each protected wildlife, part, or derivative, and up to 15 years’ imprisonment upon conviction.
During the proceedings, Judge Hayda Faridzal also inspected the female tiger carcass that had been marked as an exhibit in the case.
