Tee Ping Heng
Tee Ping Heng, a 56-year-old online trader, was charged in Muar Sessions Court for possessing tiger skin, sun bear claws, elephant tusks, and wild boar fangs. He pleaded not guilty. The charges fall under Malaysia’s Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, which lists these species as protected. For tiger skin and sun bear claws, the Act imposes fines of at least RM150,000 (about 31,600 US dollars) per specimen, and up to 15 years in prison. For elephant tusks and wild boar fangs, the penalties range up to RM500,000 (about 105,000 US dollars), plus possible jail time.
Yet despite the seriousness of the crimes, the judge granted him bail—RM21,000 (about 4,400 US dollars)—and allowed him to walk free while awaiting trial. Bail in cases of wildlife slaughter is a disgrace. Possession of tiger parts is not a petty crime. It fuels trafficking, devastates populations, and encourages more killing. Cases like this show why weak enforcement and low penalties only empower tiger poaching. People like Tee Ping Heng should not see daylight before sentencing. Jail should be immediate.
The Tee Ping Heng article:
Based on New Straits Times, Malaysia.
Photo via NST.
