KOTA KINABALU: The Sandakan Magistrate’s court has sentenced an Indonesian estate worker to one year imprisonment for causing hurt to a male orangutan on July 13 at Gedau, Long Manis, Beluran.
Magistrate Suhaila Selag meted out the sentence on Syam Bin Sul, 38, who was charged under Section 37 of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 which carries a fine of RM20,000 or imprisonment for two years or both for causing reckless injury to protected animals.
The court was told that Syam had slashed the orangutan with a parang after the orangutan allegedly tried to chase him as he was making his way back to his abode or ‘kongsi’ (place of residence) from work.
The prosecution was handled by Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) officer, Abd. Karim Dakog.
Meanwhile, SWD director William Baya expressed satisfaction that the perpetrator had been dealt with according to the law.
He said it was unfortunate that the perpetrator had decided to injure the orangutan when he could have easily avoided it by running away from the animal if it was true that the primate had tried to chase him.
He added that Syam could have easily outrun the orangutan.
“The penalty imposed by the court should serve as a reminder to would-be offenders of the serious consequences of injuring protected animals, more so with the totally protected species. We will deal with them according to the law,” he said.
He added that foreigners working in Sabah should respect the law of the country.
And to avoid future untoward incidences, William called on plantation managers and owners to inform SWD if they come across protected species straying into their plantations.
“The plantations should also take the initiative to advise their ignorant foreign workers against hunting or injuring protected species,” he said.
William, when commenting on the condition of the orangutan, said the orangutan was sedated yesterday to treat the deep parang wound.
The orangutan was being monitored and treated by SWD since its rescue.
“Upon closer examination of the wound, we found that it was extremely deep and that the parang had actually penetrated into air sac, causing air sacculitis (state of severe infection of the air sacs). Air sac is a loose pouch located around the throat of an orangutan which is used for vocalising,” he said.
He further added that the SWD veterinary team had managed to suture the parang wound that had penetrated the air sac and drained more than 120 ml of puss exudate.
He said other wounds were also treated but all were quite superficial and not in urgent risk of major infection.
Even though the orangutan had improved, he said with the new problem of air sacculitis diagnosed yesterday, intensive care was still required for the next few weeks.
“We hope that once all the problems are resolved, we will be able to release him to the wild where he belong.”