KUCHING: The Sarawak courts now have comprehensive guidance on issuing sentences for wildlife crimes in the state to ensure consistency and fairness.

       Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim said the newly-launched "Sentencing Guidelines for Wildlife Crimes in Sarawak" would assist the courts in meting out proportionate sentences without undue disparities between them.

       "Of course there cannot be two exact same sentences for two offences. There is no such thing as identical offences committed, there is always some degree of difference.

       "We don't want to have too extreme a difference when the courts pass sentences on offenders who commit almost similar offences," he told reporters after launching the guidelines at the court complex here on Thursday (June 16).

       Abang Iskandar said data from the use of the guidelines could be studied to assess their impact on wildlife crimes in the state.

       "We are putting in the guidelines to improve ourselves in the courts so that we understand better and take into account the correct factors (in sentencing)," he added.

       The guidelines were formulated by the Sarawak Courts Working Group on Environment (SWGE) in collaboration with WWF-Malaysia.

       SWGE head Jason Juga said consultations were held with the state Attorney General's Chambers, Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Advocates Association of Sarawak and government agencies in developing the guidelines.

       He said they aimed to promote consistency and develop sound reasoning for wildlife crime cases in the state.

       "The guidelines are expected to assist in ensuring we have a consistent and proportionate sentencing process, which will result in justice being delivered fairly and efficiently in more cases," he said.