KOTA KINABALU: A foreigner was jailed for 12 months and slapped with a RM100,000 fine after being found guilty of trying to smuggle over 4,000 turtle eggs into the country through Sandakan last month.

       Sandakan Sessions Court Judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim meted out the sentence on Abdul Nasir Razak, 57, an IMM13 document holder, on Tuesday.

       He was charged under Section 41(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, which carries a fine of between RM50,000 and RM250,000 and a jail term of between a year and five years, or both, on conviction.

       The accused will get another 12 months behind bars if he fails to settle the fine.

       Abdul Nasir will serve his jail sentence starting Aug 21, the date of his arrest.

       The court also ordered that the accused be referred to the Immigration Department for further action upon the completion of his sentence.

       According to the facts of the case, two marine police vessels spotted a boat in open sea while scouring the Bagang Sea in the east coast Sandakan district under Ops Taring Gelora at 9.45pm on Aug 21.

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       The police approached the boat, which was headed to Sandakan, and told the skipper to stop, but the latter ignored the orders and fled.

       The authorities, however, managed to intercept the boat soon after.

       Following an inspection, they found the accused on board with 14 plastic bags containing 4,200 turtle eggs.

       It is believed the accused was attempting to smuggle the eggs into Sandakan from the Philippines.

       Deputy Public Prosecutor Lim Sze Chuen appeared for the prosecution while the accused was unrepresented.