Sumatra, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, APP, dead tiger, illegal poaching, Sumatran tiger, tembilahan,
PEKANBARU (EoF News)— Two Sumatran tiger poachers were tried in Tembilahan District Court, Riau, for allegedly slaughtering three Sumatran tigers in Pelangiran sub-district in February this year.
Ajad Abdullah (73), pensioner of local Forestry Service official, and his son, Mistar Ajad (44), were detained by the Prosecutors Office last month and were tried first last week.
The defendants are charged with violating Conservation Law Number 5 year 1990 and could be sentenced to five-year imprisonment and a maximum of fine of Rp50 million if they were found guilty.
On the second session of trial on Thursday (23/7/2009), the lawyer of defendants, Edward, called on the judges to annul the charge against the perpetrators, Metro Riau daily reported Friday (24/7).
“We consider that the indictment of prosecutors does not fulfill formal and substantial requirements,” the lawyer told the court. The lawyer team said the indictment is insufficient, unclear and blurred.
The lawyer also defended that the killing of three Sumatran tigers in February were not solely conducted by the father and son, but altogether by villagers.
Riau Mandiri daily reported that the trial would continue on Monday (27/7) in a session of reading the temporary decision.
Previously, The Jakarta Post reported (25/6/2009) that a Riau BKSDA investigator said the three dead tigers were male and still young, evident from their medium size.
Marhot Pohan, who filed the case, said the tigers were killed and skinned after both suspects were able to trap them not far from the village. "We found two pieces of tiger pelt and skulls at the suspect's house, while they had already sold the other pelt and body parts of the third tiger. A number of witnesses said the suspects caught the animals by trapping them."
Villager blame APP's clearing to escalating wildlife conflict
Six people, three tigers killed in Sumatra this month
EoF Press Release 17 March 2009
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