KUCHING: Following the launch of Sentencing Guidelines for Wildlife Crimes in Sarawak, courts in the state should ensure there is consistency and fairness when issuing sentences for wildlife offences.

       Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Justice Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim said the guidelines 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.

       “What we are concerned about is we don’t want to have too extreme a difference when the courts pass sentence on offenders who commit almost similar offences,” he told reporters after launching the guidelines at the court complex here.

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

       “The guidelines will help us 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.

       “The guidelines will help ensure we have a consistent and proportionate sentencing process, which will result in justice being delivered fairly and efficiently,” he said.

       WWF-Malaysia chief executive Sophia Lim said the guidelines marked a significant step forward in Sarawak’s efforts to address the challenges in issuing consistent and appropriate sentences on wildlife crime offenders.

       “With the court’s adoption of the guidelines, WWF-Malaysia will continue to pursue more knowledge-sharing and capacity-building activities,” she said.