4 Pangolin Scales Sellers In Central Kalimantan Threatened With 5 Years In Prison

PHOTO VIA ANTARA

PALANGKA RAYA - Four suspects selling pangolin scales who were arrested by the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation at the Central Kalimantan Police face a maximum prison sentence of five years.

"Out of a total of 22.64 kilograms of pangolin scales, the transaction value is more than Rp1.68 million," said Director of Special Criminal Investigation at the Central Kalimantan Police Grand Commissioner Bonny Djianto in Palangka Raya, quoted by Antara, Monday, November 1.

Grand Commissioner Bonny said the four suspects with the initials AS, K, FS, and B are now languishing in the Central Kalimantan Police Headquarters Detention Center. Investigators also seized 22.64 kilograms of pangolin scales.

He said that the disclosure of the case began when members of the Central Kalimantan Police Ditreskrimsus received information about the sale of pangolin scales in a number of places. Animals with the Latin name "manis javanica" are protected animals.

On Friday, August 6, at around 19.00 western Indonesia time, the police managed to secure a man with the initials AS in Cempaga District, East Kotawaringin Regency with evidence of pangolin scales weighing 0.3 kilograms.

Furthermore, on Wednesday, September 15 at around 11.45 western Indonesia time, the Ditreskrimsus team of the local Police also managed to arrest the suspect with the initials K on Pancasila street, Madurejo District, West Kotawaringin Regency. Police confiscated pangolin scales weighing 6 kilograms, with an estimated price of around Rp27 million.

Then in October, the Ditreskrimsus team also arrested two people in different places. First, on Tuesday, October 27, the police managed to arrest the suspect with the initials B at around 14.00 western Indonesia time in East Kotawaringin Regency.

From this incident, members managed to confiscate 4.5 kilograms of pangolin scales, each kilogram being sold for Rp4.5 million. If totaled with the weight, the value is more than Rp20 million.

"The last suspect, FS, was arrested in West Kotawaringin on Wednesday (28/10) at around 10.00 western Indonesia time. FS was arrested on Hasanudin street, Mendawai District. the total is more than Rp71 million," said Grand Commissioner Bonny.

Police are still developing an investigation in order to catch the scale collectors of the rare ant-eating animal. According to Bonny, based on the confessions of the suspects, this is the first time they have sold the pangolin scales.

"But in their modus operandi, investigators don't believe that they have only done it once, but have done it several times, therefore developments have been carried out," said Bonny.

He added that the former Directorate of Drug Investigation of the Central Kalimantan Police said the information was that the pangolins would later be sold outside the region to be sent abroad, such as to China and Singapore.

To obtain the 22.64 kilograms of pangolin scales, it is estimated that around 40 pangolins must be killed by the four suspects. Pangolin scales are sold to people who deliberately target them.

"Why is it expensive to sell, because it can be used for herbal medicine and one of the raw materials for methamphetamine," said Grand Commissioner Bonny.