Two Wildlife Traders Jailed 20 Months

Agus Sobari and Sarwo, two traders in Jatinegara market, Jakarta, Indonesia were arrested in a joint raid by the Forestry department, ProFauna Indonesia, the Institute of Animal Advocacy (LASA) and the International Animal Rescue (IAR) last February 3rd 2008, ( www.profauna.org/profaunanews/ 2008news/jatinegara-jkt.html) and were sentenced to 20 months and 19 months imprisonment respectively, by the Magistrates Court in Jakarta on July 3rd 2008, for selling protected species. Both were charged under the 1990 wildlife law that carried a sentence of up to one million rupiah fine (about US $110).

Sobari pleaded guilty to illegally selling a Leopard cat (Felis bengalensis), four slow lorises (Nycticebus coucang), two Malayan porcupines (Hystrix brachyuran), and an otter civet (Cynogale bennetti). Likewise, Sarwo was convicted of trading one leopard cat, four slow lorises, and two Black-winged kites (Elanus caeruleus).

The presiding judge, Siswandriyono, advised the traders, "People should make money in sustainable manners. Just because of the need to feed the family, one can trigger the cause of biodiversity loss by trading endangered animals."