Jakarta Globe, Dessy
Sagita, June 10, 2013
He was
tasked with protecting Indonesia’s endangered animals, but an official with the
Natural Resources Conservation Agency [BKSDA] may have been one of their
biggest threats, police said on Monday.
Police say
an official identified as “MHF” was allegedly trafficking endangered animals,
selling off species like the loris and the Javan hawk-eagle as exotic pets.
“The
suspect claimed he was member of BKSDA, and unfortunately it was true,” said
Adj. Sugeng, of the Jakarta Police.
The Jakarta
Police, acting on a tip from an animal welfare group, arranged a meeting with
the official. When he arrived at Kalibata Mall, in South Jakara, the man
allegedly had a Javan hawk-eagle and a pair of lorises in his car, police said.
He was
allegedly offering the animals for Rp 10 million ($1,020).
“This is so
sad that the animals were sold for that low of a price,” Sugeng said. “This
will put our environment in danger.”
Police
arrested MHF and charged him with violating the 1990 Law on Conservation and
Ecosystem. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
No comments:
Post a Comment