SINGAPORE: A animal store owner linked to Singapore’s largest animal- trafficking operation has been sentenced to jail for a month and 16 months.
Leow Seng Lee, 63, a judge’s ruling on Saturday ( 6 April ) revealed that he had ordered the birds for sale at his pet shop and was aware that they would die if their transportation across the Malaysian border was delayed.
To bring the birds across the border for stock at his animal shop, he collaborated with two co-accused: a Malay truck drivers and a Singaporean middleman who likewise professed to be a animal lover.
Leow admitted guilt to two counts of conspiring to import endangered bird species from Malaysia without authorization under the Endangered Species ( Import and Export ) Act, and a fourth count was taken into account.
Leow, who had more than 40 years of experience operating well-established animal shops in Singapore that sell birds and fish, was alleged to have run a pet store at Block 26, Teck Whye Lane.
According to Leow’s military doctors, Mr Christopher Yeo and Ms Fiona Oon from Legal Solutions, Leow got to know inc- accused Ng Liang Huat, a 60- year- ancient Singaporean, in 2017 or 2018.
Ng generally brought his own birds to Leow’s purchase, and the two men were bird owners.
Leow argued that he needed Ng’s assistance in order to buy animals from licensed retailers between November 2020 and July 2021 because he believed he could cut costs by relying on him as a mediator. Eventually, this led to the bird-importation that was against the law.
A 27-year-old Malaysian truck drivers who delivered fresh professional supplies to Singapore regular was Aizzuddin Hadi Mohd Ishak, the gentleman who transported the species across the border.
Hadi even assisted a Indonesian male in giving animals to a Malaysian gentleman who turned out to be Ng.
Between January 2023 and March 2023, Hadi had been bringing wild animals and birds into Ng on at least eight past events.
He was aware that the birds were kept in plastic bags and kept in boxes in his car to fend off immigration and checkpoints ( ICA ) officers from visiting Singapore checkpoints each time.
THE System
The trio’s structure was so improper that Leow and Ng reached an agreement to look for birds for sale at Leow’s pet shop six months prior to their arrest.
Through Hadi, Ng established a relationship with Indonesian dealers and began supplying animals from Malaysia to Leow.
Hadi collected the animals at a rural area in Gelang Patah, Johor Bahru, before heading to Singapore. He was paid RM1, 000 ( US$ 210 ) for each trip by his Malaysian boss and earned extra commission of S$ 100 from Ng.
After completing the checkpoint, Hadi would hand the seized animals to Ng in the Tuas region.
Ng would then deliver the birds to Leow’s bird shop and was paid S$ 200 for each effective bird delivery, with more commissions for certain bird types: S$ 10 per reddish- whiskered bulbul, S$ 5 per exotic white- eye and S$ 30 per whitened- rumped shama.
Both Ng and Leow were aware that the animals were illegally imported into Singapore from either Malaysia or Thailand.
The pair had previously participated in eight live animal smuggling operations, totaling at least 900 birds, before being apprehended.
THE Imprisonment
Hadi was detained at Tuas Checkpoint on March 23, 2023, for bringing 337 life birds into Singapore without permission.
While conducting a routine observation, ICA officers found the animals in eight plastic containers that were hidden behind the vehicle and passenger seats.
The parrots comprised four distinct species, including 24 whitened- rumped maha, an endangered species. According to the verdict, this was the most animals ever brought into Singapore.
The birds were taken after the National Parks Board ( NPB) received the case.
Hadi was given permission to travel to Tuas to meet up with Ng thanks to NParks officials.
Leow called Ng several times to check whether the bird shipment had arrived before Ng and Hadi met. The vehicle had been delayed, Ng replied.
Leow then cautioned Ng to be cautious, stating that the vehicle had likely been detained for bringing the birds into the country illegally and that NParks officers may be nearby.
Despite this, Ng proceeded to obtain the animals from Hadi.
In WhatsApp voice messages, Leow told Ng that the birds would have” all died” and that it “wo n’t be of use anymore if the birds are all dead”.
NParks soldiers watched as Hadi met Ng, who had prepared food, beverages and S$ 900 in funds for Hadi.
When NParks approached him, Ng admitted that he had ordered the animals from a Malaysian person known as Ah Heng and that he was anticipating Hadi’s arrival.
He was arrested on the spot. Eventually, Ng acknowledged that Leow had ordered 237 of the 337 parrots and went to Leow’s pet store to finish the deal.
Leow was detained while transferring the animals from Ng.
SENTENCING Claims
Leow was alleged to have been the genius and had placed the order for the animals, and the prosecutors requested a full sentence of 18 to 22 months in prison.
When the shipment was delayed, he could also call off the operation and read off the shipment.
According to the trial, Leow knew it was improper to import animals without a valid sanction and had owned a pet store for around 50 years.
The attorney said Leow may bear some responsibility because more than half the animals died as a result of the smuggling, but he was not held accountable for causing the birds ‘ anguish.
Leow even received the unlawful bird deliveries in both his key and best interests, according to the prosecution, who claimed Leow could have made a total profit of between S$ 12, 950 and S$$ 94, 640 from the sale of birds from each of his nine consignments.
According to the prosecution, the potential profits from the March 23, 2023 operation could have increased by S$ 84, 875.
Leow also did not fully cooperate with the authorities, unlike Ng and Hadi, said the prosecutor. He initially denied involvement in the smuggling.
Leow, which was Hadi’s sentence, was ordered by the defense to spend no more than 60 weeks in prison.
They argued that Leow is a law- abiding Singaporean from” a modest family”, with four children.
They alleged Leow, who had been caught, was concerned about the birds ‘ well-being, and that he had even offered to put up additional cages for them. They also urged NParks officers to divide them into cages to stop harm caused by aggression.
According to the attorneys, Leow has since decided to shut down his two locations by the end of this year.
Leow’s contributions to the neighborhood bird-owning community were also highlighted by the defense by hosting community events and holding minglings at his shop.
The judge argued that the large number of birds involved in Leow’s charges, 1, 137, “puts the fact that this transnational bird smuggling syndicate was large in front of the judges.”
Despite efforts to stop illegal wildlife trade and trade in animals, syndicates are motivated to take calculated risks when importing the animals into Singapore, according to District Judge Lorraine Ho.
Judge Ho claimed that Leow, who has worked in the Singaporean pet shop industry for more than 40 years,” clearly knew and is acutely aware” that it is illegal to import live birds from Malaysia into Singapore.
Ng was sentenced to 72 weeks ‘ jail in August 2023.