KOTA KINABALU: A 64-year-old man who was charged for possessing parts of protected animals in Kota Belud in July last year has been asked to enter his defence next month.

       Chung En Kin - who had pleaded not guilty to illegally possessing the meat of Banteng (wild buffalo), large flying fox and sambar deer including its horn - which are protected animals, will have to prove his case on Aug 11 and 26.

       Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus made the order on Thursday (July 15) after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Chung.

       The defence informed the court that about three witnesses would be called during the defence.

       Chung allegedly committed the offence at 2.50pm on April 18, 2019 at a building or premises of Kedai Emas Heng Cheong, on the first floor of Block B, Centenary complex in Kota Belud.

       According to the fact sheet, Chung is accused of having 36.10kg of the Banteng (Bos Javanicus) Tembadau, an animal product fully protected as listed under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, without permission.

       The offence under Section 41(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 and punishable under Section 41(4) of the same Enactment, carries a fine between RM50,000 and RM250,000 or a jail term of between one month and five years, on conviction.

       On the second count, Chung was accused of possessing five carcasses of the large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus), an animal protected under the same Enactment, without a valid possession permit.

       The offence under Section 41(2) of the same Enactment and punishable under Section 41(4) of the same Enactment, carries a fine of RM30,000 or three years’ jail or both, upon conviction.

       On the third count, Chung is accused of having 4.8kg of Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) meat, its four legs weighing 3.4kg and one horn without a permit.

       The Sambar Deer is a protected species under the same Enactment.

       The charge under Section 41(2) of the same Enactment and punishable under Section 41(4)(c) of the same Enactment, carries a fine between RM30,000 and RM50,000, a jail term of up to three years or both on conviction.

       The prosecution had called six witnesses in the hearing.

       Prosecuting Officer Abdul Karim Dakog of the Wildlife Department conducted the prosecution while Chung was represented by counsel Sylyester Kuan.