Seller Of Yellow-crested Cockatoo In Medan Sentenced To 2 Years In Prison

The panel of judges at the Medan District Court, North Sumatra, sentenced the defendant Ferdinand Parmonangan Tampubolon (42) to two years in prison, for trading protected animals in the form of seven yellow-crested cockatoos.

"Sentenced the defendant Ferdinand Parmonangan Tampubolon to two years in prison," said Chief Judge Hendra Hutabarat as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, December 18.

The judge stated that the defendant Ferdinand's actions were found guilty of committing a criminal act of trading protected animals alive.

Defendant Ferdinand was proven to have violated Article 21 paragraph (2) letter a in conjunction with Article 40 paragraph (2) of Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems, as stated in the single indictment.

In addition to imprisonment, the judge also sentenced the defendant Ferdinand to pay a fine of Rp. 200 million on the condition that if the fine was not paid, it would be replaced with three months in prison.

The verdict was lighter than the demands of the Belawan Prosecutor's Office, Bella Azigna Purnama, previously demanded that the defendant Ferdinand be two years and six months in prison, and a fine of Rp. 200 million, subsidiary to six months in prison.

Public Prosecutor Bella in her indictment explained that the defendant Ferdinand was arrested by North Sumatra Police officers, on Jalan Gagak Hitam Medan, Wednesday (12/6) at 18.00 WIB.

"During the arrest, officers confiscated seven yellow-crested cockatoos from the hands of the defendant Ferdinand," Bella said.

When interrogated, he continued, the defendant Ferdinand admitted that the protected animal was obtained by buying from the city of Surabaya.

"The defendant admitted that the seven protected animals will be sold to Kuala Simpang in Aceh for Rp. 4 million per male, and female for Rp. 4.3 million per head," Bella said.