Couple held for selling over 800 protected birds in house of worship
KUALA LUMPUR: A husband and wife were found illegally keeping and selling more than 800 protected wild birds within a place of worship.
The couple were arrested after they were caught selling Scaly-breasted Munias (locally known as Ciak Tempua) for RM25 each.
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) Peninsular Malaysia director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the operation was uncovered through Operasi Bersepadu Khazanah (OBK), led by Perhilitan's Wildlife Crime Unit (WCU) with support from the General Operations Force of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).
The raid, led by WCU officer Celescoriano Razond, was conducted at a stall located within the compound of a house of worship in Petaling Jaya at 8.50am yesterday.
"A local man in his 40s and his wife in her 50s, who were at the location, were detained and questioned.
"Checks uncovered 854 Scaly-breasted Munias, which are classified as protected wildlife species in Malaysia.
"Also seized were 10 dead birds. All the birds were kept in 16 metal cages of various sizes," he said.
Kadir said the birds, estimated to be worth RM30,000, were seized and sent to the Sungai Tengi Wildlife Conservation Centre in Selangor for further action.
"The suspects were detained for investigation before being released on police bail of RM10,000 with one surety," he added.
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