RM39,660 penalty for 1,322 turtle eggs stands as High Court dismisses appeal

File photo of green turtle eggs discovered on the Golden Beach at Similajau National Park, Bintulu.

By Dorcas Ting

KUCHING, April 23: The High Court has upheld a RM39,660 fine imposed on a man for unlawfully possessing more than 1,300 turtle eggs, dismissing the prosecution’s appeal to review the sentence.

Judicial Commissioner Wong Siong Tung found no misdirection or error in principle in the Sessions Court’s ruling against the 60-year-old accused, who had earlier pleaded guilty to the offence.

The prosecution, represented by deputy public prosecutor Ronald Felix Hardin and acting on behalf of the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), filed the appeal on March 2, 2026.

The respondent was represented by counsel Jong Yee Ling.

On April 25, 2024, the Sessions Court fined the accused RM30 for each of the 1,322 turtle eggs in his possession, amounting to a total of RM39,660. In default of payment, he would face six months’ imprisonment.

The offence was committed at a commercial premises in Taman Lee Ling along Jalan Matang at about 10am on July 15, 2023. He was charged under Section 37(1) of the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998, read together with the relevant penalty provisions.

In affirming the sentence, Wong said the lower court had carefully considered all relevant factors, including the seriousness of the offence, the large quantity of wildlife items involved, and the need for deterrence.

He added that while tools such as the Wildlife Crime Sentencing Guidelines and the WILDCAL calculator serve as useful references, sentencing ultimately remains within the discretion of the court, guided by the specific facts of each case. — DayakDaily