Capture 3 Turtles, Flores Residents Threatened With 5 Years In Prison And A Fine Of IDR 100 Million

The secured turtles were released into the coast of Larantuka, East Flores. (ANTARA)

Investigators from Polairud Polda NTT stated that two suspects in the arrest of three green turtles in the waters of Metingdoeng, East Flores Regency were threatened with five years in prison and a fine of Rp. 100 million as a result of their actions.

Head of the Polairud Law Enforcement Sub-Directorate of the NTT Police, AKBP Hendra Dorizen, said that the two suspects named Nasarudin Blegur and Saiful were arrested last Tuesday after receiving information from residents.

"They were arrested directly at their homes, and members found three turtles tied behind their homes," Hendra said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, February 16.

The suspects are known to have violated Article 40 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph (2) letter a of Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1 of the Criminal Code.

The two suspects were arrested by a team from the East Flores Police Polairud Unit Headquarters. During interrogation, the two admitted that three turtles were caught in the waters of Metindoeng.

The three turtles were caught by the two suspects and then traded so that their profits could be used for personal gain.

"They have also been carrying out these unlawful activities since 2019 until they were arrested last Tuesday," he said.

Currently, the two suspects are still being held at the headquarters of the East Flores Police Airud Unit for further handling.

Head of the NTT KSDA Center, Arief Mahmud, through Section Head of KSDA Region IV Pieter Didok, said that after receiving information on the whereabouts of the three turtles, his party immediately sent a team to identify them.

From the identification results, it is known that of the three turtles protected by the law, one of them has died.

The identification results show that the turtle I has a length of 99 centimeters and a width of 87 cm. The second turtle has a length of 92 cm and a width of 85 cm.

While the third turtle has a fragility length of 81 cm and a width of 78 cm and when found dead..

"For the two turtles, they were released back into the wild on Thursday," he said.