Kangaroo Smuggler From Papua Sentenced To 15 Months In Prison

AMBON - The Ambon District Court Judge sentenced Muhamad Yusuf, a defendant who smuggled seven protected trees from Papua, with a sentence of 15 months in prison.

"Punishing the defendant for 1 year and 3 months in prison for being proven to have violated Article 40 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph (2) letter a of Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the conservation of biological natural resources and its ecosystem, in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1 of the Criminal Code," said Chief Justice Orpha Maitimu accompanied by two member judges, at the Ambon District Court, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 3.

The defendant, who is a resident of Numbay Village, South Jayapura District, was also sentenced to pay a fine of Rp. 2 million, a subsidiary of one month in prison for accompanying the protected animals, after being rented by unscrupulous owners who are on the wanted list (DPO) by the police at this time.

Meanwhile, the evidence in the form of seven tree shades (inustus dendrolagus) which were put in six iron cages alive and then released into their habitat through the Maluku Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA).

Evidence in the form of a tree extract has died when the police confiscated it from the Ambon KPYS Police with the Maluku BKSDA.

The verdict of the panel of judges was lighter than the demands of the Public Prosecutor of the Ambon Kejari who demanded that the defendant be sentenced to 1.5 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 2 million, subsidiary to four months in prison.

Previously, the defendant Muhamad Yusuf was detained by the KPYS Police (Yos Sudarso Port Police) Ambon on Monday (15/5) at around 08.00 WIT on the Pelni ship while docked at the Port of Yos Sudarso Ambon.

Initially, the defendant was a TKBM worker at Jayapura Port to meet someone named Luke (DPO).

Luke asked the defendant for help to transport his belongings in the form of seven treeferts to the KMDobonsolo ship. The defendant, without asking further questions regarding the permit, immediately asked for a fee of Rp. 1.7 million.

Luke agreed to the price and then the defendant transported the endemic Papuan animal using four closed bags.