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WWF gives awards to pro-conservation judges
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Pro-conservation – World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Riau program manager Wisnu Sukmantoro presents an award to Rengat District Court presiding judge Wiwin Sulistya for the latter’s commitment to wildlife conservation in a ceremony on Oct.19. (JP/Rizal Harahap)
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onservation group World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Riau has presented awards to three judges of the Rengat District Court (PN) as its appreciation over their support of wildlife and environmental rescue efforts.
The three judges, Wiwin Sulistya, Petra Jeanny Siahaan and Immanuel Marganda Putra Sirait, sentenced two tiger skin traders from Kuantan Singingi, Riau, to four years in prison during a trial in the beginning of September.They also ordered each of the two wildlife traders to pay Rp 60 million (US$ 4,608.29) in fines.
WWF Riau program manager Wisnu Sukmantoro said the verdict handed down by the three judges should be appreciated as it was the heaviest sentence for wildlife crime in Riau during the last 10 years.
“Previously, the maximum sentence imposed on a wildlife crime perpetrator was only one year. Many perpetrators were even sentenced to only six months in prison. It’s really a record-breaking punishment,” he said on Wednesday.
PN Rengat head Moh. Sutarwadi and the court’s clerk Iwan Uripno also received similar awards for their support and commitment to wildlife conservation during the trial.
“In Sumatra, this is among the heaviest sentences imposed on wildlife crime perpetrators in the last two years. Earlier, the judge panel of PN Arga Makmur in Bengkulu also sentenced a defendant to four years in prison after being proven guilty of possessing and selling tiger skins,”said Wisnu.
He said a maximum sentence must be imposed on wildlife crime perpetrators because 100 percent of the animal body parts they traded were obtained from hunting.
“In paralyzing wildlife species, they have always used firearms. Thus, they should have been charged of violating Emergency Law No.12/1951 on illegal firearm possession with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison,” said Wisnu. (ebf)
