Illegal Slow Loris Seller Arrested By Agam Police Joint Team

LUBUKBASUNG - The West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) Joint Team with the Agam Police - Criminal Investigation Unit arrested the seller of three slow lorises (Nyticebus coucang) when they were trying to sell the protected animal.

Agam Police Chief, Grand Commissioner Adjutant Ferry Ferdian accompanied by Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of Agam Police Commissioner Adjutant Farel Haris in Lubukbasung, Monday 11 April, said the slow loris seller, RS (50), Gumarang resident, Nagari Tigo Koto Silungkang, Palembayan District, Agam Regency, was arrested by the team at the Padang Koto Gadang intersection, Nagari Salareh Aia, Palembayan sub-district on Saturday, April 9, at around 13.50 western Indonesia time.

"The hospital was arrested along with a four-wheeled vehicle used to transport three rare and protected species of slow loris," he said, quoted by Antara.

He said the arrest was initiated from information from the public who said that someone was transporting slow lorises using four-wheeled vehicles.

The joint team that received this information then traced the information and found the perpetrator with his vehicle carrying three slow lorises in two plastic bags.

The plan is to sell three slow lorises at a price that has been agreed with potential buyers whose information comes from Pekanbaru. Until now, officers are still developing the handling of the case.

Furthermore, the hospital along with evidence were secured at the Agam Police Headquarters in Lubukbasung for further legal proceedings.

"Currently, the perpetrator has been designated as a suspect and has been detained by investigators at the Agam Police Detention Center," he said.

He added that the perpetrator's actions had violated Article 21 paragraph 2 letter a of Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems. The law states that everyone is prohibited from catching, injuring, killing, storing, maintaining, transporting, and trading protected animals alive, with a maximum imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of IDR 100 million.

The loris is a primate species that is protected by legislation in Indonesia, while in international conservation status, it is endangered and is included in the classification of Appendix I, which means that it should not be used for trade.