Free Verdict Canceled, Traders Cula Badak Jawa Finally Jailed

Illustration of the Javan Rhino (doc the Indonesian Rhino Foundation)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) expressed his appreciation for the decision of the Supreme Court (MA) to cancel the acquittal for the Javan rhino cula (Rhinoceros sondaicus) trading.

The Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) of the Ministry of Transportation, Satyawan Pudyatmoko, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Pandeglang District Attorney for the cassation effort, and the Supreme Court for making the right decision.

"This has fulfilled all efforts that have been made to protect the Javan rhino from all lines, both hunters, facilitators and domestic and foreign buyers," Satyawan said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, April 28.

"This Supreme Court decision is also an important signal that Indonesian law does not tolerate illegal trade in parts of endangered animals," Satyawan added.

Previously, the Supreme Court decided to grant the cassation filed by the Public Prosecutor (JPU) of the Pandeglang District Attorney (Kejari) for the Javan rhino cula trading case involving the defendant Liem Hoo Kwan Willy alias Willy.

The Supreme Court's decision overturned the acquittal previously handed down by the Pandeglang District Court (PN). In the cassation decision, the Supreme Court sentenced him to 1 year in prison and a fine of Rp. 100 million, subsidiary to imprisonment for 3 months.

The case stems from the trade transaction of the Javan rhino horn from poaching in the Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK) area, which is the last habitat for the Javan rhino species. Willy was arrested by the ranks of the Banten Police after he was strongly suspected of being involved in the purchase of rhino horn from the hunt.

However, in the first instance court at the Pandeglang District Court, Willy was declared free on the grounds of a lack of evidence that corroborated the indictment.

Meanwhile, six other perpetrators on February 12, 2025, were decided by the panel of judges at the Pandeglang District Court to declare the six perpetrators guilty in the hunting case in Ujung Kulon National Park with a sentence of 12 years in prison for the defendant Sahru and 11 years in prison for the other five perpetrators, as well as a fine of Rp. 100 million (subsidiary to 3 months in prison).

In addition, the Pandeglang District Court has also sentenced Yogi Purwadi as an intermediary for selling Javan rhino horn on July 25, 2024 with a prison sentence of 4 years and 6 months and a fine of Rp. 100 million, subsidiary to imprisonment of 3 months.