Jember Police Arrest Protected Animal Skin Crafts

JEMBER - Jember Resort Police officers arrested a craftsman with the initials MMR who is suspected of using the skin and limbs of protected wild animals for handicrafts.

"The suspect was arrested at his home in Tembokrejo Village, Gumukmas District, Jember Regency by confiscating a number of handicrafts from protected wildlife," said Jember Police Chief AKBP Hery Purnomo, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, May 25.

Some of the evidence that was secured from the suspect's house was a number of handicrafts from endangered animals protected by law, such as deer heads and deer heads that have been preserved and belts made of tiger skin.

There was also a bag made of leopard skin and some dried deer and leopard skins.

"The suspect plays a role in processing or processing protected animals to make crafts such as bags and belts that use the skin or heads of protected animals to be sold to other people," he said.

According to him, the suspect is marketing the handicrafts made from protected wildlife through social media and there are already indications that the handicrafts have been sold, but investigators are still investigating and clarifying this matter.

"Of course there are those who supply or give the protected wild animals to those concerned. Currently, the perpetrators are being chased by investigators from the Jember Police Satreskrim," he said.

Based on the suspect's statement, he continued, some of the wild animals that were obtained for the craft materials came from the Sumatran region, but it is possible that these rare animals were also found in the area around Jember.

"The suspect is charged with Article 40 paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph 2 of the Constitution No. 45 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Ecosystems. The suspect is also charged with the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia Number 106 of 2018 concerning Protected Types of Plants and Animals," he said.

The threat of punishment from this article is imprisonment for five years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 million, but the Jember Police continue to develop the case of trafficking in protected wildlife.