TAWAU, April 4 — A Filipino man was sentenced to four years in jail and fined RM200,000 by the Tawau Sessions Court, here, today, after he pleaded guilty to possessing body parts of green turtles in Semporna, last week.
According to the charge sheet, Suryan Sah was accused of having 13 pieces of plastron and 25 pieces of marginal scales of the green turtle species in front of an unnumbered house in Kampung Bangau-Bangau, Semporna at 10am on March 29. The offence is punisble under Section 41 of the same enactment which provides for a maximum sentence of RM250,000 other than imprisonment not exceeding five years, if convicted.
Awang Kerisnada, in his judgement, said the accused was an environmental criminal and the court must be firm on the matter.