By BORNEOTODAY REPORTERS
KOTA KINABALU: A 60-year-old man has been remanded for five days by the Semporna Magistrate’s Court Monday to enable the Sabah Wildlife Department carry out investigations in connection with turtle poaching in the east coast.
Augustine Tuuga, the SWD director in a statement late Monday, said the suspect was arrested in Kampung Pantau-Pantau, Bum-Bum island.
He did not say when the man was arrested.
“The Wildlife Department is continuing the search for the other suspects who have been identified in the days to come. The search is to cover several islands in Semporna waters,” he said in the statement.
No mention was made in the statement about Saturday night’s discovery of turtle carcasses found floating near Mabul island.
Meanwhile, investigations are continuing on the killing of a male adult elephant in Kinabatangan.
According to Tuuga, the search for the crime scene was done by boat, both from along the river and on land by car.
“Inspection along Sungai Koyah near the site where the elephant carcass was found floating didn’t detect any sign of elephant footprints which means that the elephant did not come from the area,” he added.
“Information was also gathered from the public on the killing. Several suspects have been identified. The department is continuing its investigation.”
However there was no information on the second elephant that was killed at, or close to, an oil palm plantation owned by a government linked company in Dumpas, Tawau.
The discovery of the butchered turtles has angered lots of people, both locally and overseas, leading Sea Shepherd, a foreign environmental group to offer RM21,000 as reward to bring the culprits to book.
MORE TO COME ….
RELATED STORIES: –
Sea Shepherd Offers RM21K Reward For Arrest Of Sabah Turtle Killers
Nomadic Fishermen Behind Grisly Slaughter Of 100 Turtles On Bum Bum
Gruesome Finds Rile Up Diehard Wildlife Devotees; Authorities Silent!!
