Three Men Sentenced Two Years in Prison for Illegal Orangutan Trading

Reading time: 2 menit
Orangutan. Photo: Ist.

Jakarta (Greeners) – Three men found guilty of illegal orangutan trading by Pekanbaru District Court on March 22 against the 1990 Law on Conservation. The sentences received were considered as the highest record for wildlife trading in Riau for the last ten years.

The judges, presided by H.A.S Pudjoharsoyo, sent Ali bin Ismail and Awaludding with two years and six months in prison and Rp 80 million fine with three months subsidiary punishment.

Meanwhile, Khairiroza bin Sofyan was sentenced to two years and Rp 80 million with three months subsidiary punishment.

“The average sentenced usually one year in prison, except for four men involved in illegal ivory trading in Pelalawan district on January,” he said as quoted on an official statement received by Greeners in Jakarta, on Wednesday (23/3).

Herry D. Susilo, Chair of Indonesian Orangutan Forum (FORINA), gave appreciation for the verdict of Pekanbaru district.

Furthermore, Herry said that crime against orangutan has been concerning and potentially reducing its wild population as to get the baby, the hunters must kill the mother.

“Sumatran orangutan is the most endangered of the two species in Indonesia. The birth rate is considerably low. Female orangutan gives birth after seven years with eight years interval for the next birth. As a result, the population keeps on declining. So, it is important to protect its population and habitat,” he added.

Wishnu Sukmantoro, Central Sumatra Program Manager of WWF Indonesia, said the three men were captured by special crime unit of Riau police in Pekanbaru on November 7, 2015.

The police confiscated three baby orangutans transferred from Tamiang, Aceh, of which all predicted to be less than one year old.

Currently, three orangutans are under treatment at Orangutan Quarantine Center – Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program, in Deli Serdang district, North Sumatra.

WWF Indonesia and Conservation Policy Coalition are pushing the 1990 Law on Conservation revision to be discussed at the 2016 Parliament National Legislation Program.

The sanctions are still low and become the weak point in fighting illegal wildlife trading.

“The ministry of environment and forestry is currently conducting public consultation for the bill,” he added.

Reports by Danny Kosasih

Top