So Suspects In The Case Of Selling Sumatran Tiger Skins, 3 Bener Meriah Aceh Residents Threatened With 5 Years In Prison

Evidence from the sale of Sumatran tiger skins and body parts at the Aceh Police Headquarters in Banda Aceh (ANTARA)

BANDA ACEH - Law enforcement investigators from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) have named three suspected Sumatran tiger skin sellers as suspects in the trade in parts of this protected animal.

The Director General of Environmental and Forestry Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ratio Ridho Sani, said the determination of the suspects was after investigators conducted a case.

"The determination of this suspect is our commitment with the Aceh Police to take firm action against the perpetrators of crimes against wild plants and animals that are protected by law," said Ratio Ridho Sani in Banda Aceh, Antara, Friday, June 3.

The three suspected tiger skin sellers were initialed I (48), A (41), and S (44). All three are residents of Bener Meriah Regency, Aceh. Two of the three suspects were arrested at a gas station in Pondok Baru, Bener Meriah Regency, Tuesday, May 24.

Meanwhile, another person was previously reported to have fled and was arrested a few days later. Currently, the three suspects are being held at the Aceh Police Rutan in Banda Aceh.

The three suspects were charged with Article 21 paragraph (2) letter d in conjunction with Article 40 paragraph (2) of Law Number 5/1990 concerning the conservation of living natural resources and their ecosystems. The penalty is a maximum imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 million.

"We appreciate the Aceh Police Chief and his staff for their support in taking action against the sale of tiger skins. The Sumatran tiger is a protected animal and plays an important role in controlling ecosystems and other animal populations in the food chain system," said Sani.

Previously, the Head of the Center for Security and Law Enforcement for the Environment and Forestry for the Sumatra Region of the Ministry of Environmental Forestry, Subhan, in addition to arresting the alleged seller, also secured evidence of a tiger skin and body parts of the protected animal.

"The disclosure of the tiger skin trade involves a joint team from the Center for Environmental and Forestry Security and Law Enforcement for the Sumatra Region and the Aceh Police," said Subhan.

The disclosure of the tiger skin trade began with the operation of the distribution of wild plants and animals from the Forestry Police Unit for Rapid Reaction of the Leopard Brigade Section I Region I Center for Environmental and Forestry Security and Law Enforcement in Sumatra Region with the Aceh Police.

During the operation, the joint team received information that someone offered a piece of tiger skin along with its bones. From this information, the team disguised themselves as the buyer and agreed on the price, location, and time of the transaction.

Then, at the agreed time and place, three people came to bring and show the tiger skin and its bones which were to be sold.

"The team immediately arrested them, but one of them managed to escape. "Furthermore, the two people who were detained were taken to the Aceh Gakkum Post in Banda Aceh," said Subhan.