A pet shop owner has been fined RM20,000 by the sessions court here for keeping six lizards which are protected species under the law.
Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud handed the sentence to Chan Hon Choong, who pleaded guilty to two charges under Section 60(1)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act for keeping four Robinson’s anglehead lizards and two Doria’s anglehead lizards without valid licences.
Robinson’s anglehead lizards can be found in the peninsula, while Doria’s anglehead lizards are native to East Malaysia.
Chan was charged with committing the offences on March 25 at The USJ 19 City Mall in Subang Jaya, Selangor.
He faces a year’s jail if he fails to pay the fine.
Before passing down the sentence, Awang Kerisnada advised Chan to verify the status of animals in his shop with the authorities.
“I am sure that Perhilitan (the wildlife and national parks department) has a list of animals that you can and can’t keep,” he said.
Chan, who was not represented by a lawyer, told the court he was unaware about the legal requirements involving exotic animals.
He said he had just started his business, adding that “I have a lot to learn”.
Perhilitan prosecuting officer Afzan Sohaime had urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, saying that keeping exotic animals was a serious offence.
