November 15, 2023
JAKARTA – North Sumatra police arrested two siblings allegedly involved in the illegal trade of Sumatran tiger pelts and pangolin scales at a hotel in Padang Sidimpuan city, North Sumatra, last weekend.
North Sumatra police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Hadi Wahyudi said the suspects, identified as Martua Simarmata, 44, and Daud Yusuf Simarmata, 41, are residents of Padang Sidimpuan city.
“We have detained the suspects and confiscated the evidence. Next, we will coordinate with the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) to follow up with the case,” Hadi said on Monday.
Hadi said the police confiscated a tiger pelt, tiger bones and pangolin scales, weighing a total of 15 kilograms, from the suspects.
The police were able to arrest the two suspects trading the remains of the protected species following a tip from local residents that the two siblings wanted to sell a tiger pelt and pangolin scales at a hotel in Padang Sidimpuan city, Hadi said.
The illegal sale of animal parts is a violation under Law No. 5/1990 on natural resource conservation and ecosystems, and offenders face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of Rp 100 million (US$ 6,365.35).
Last month, the North Sumatra Police special crime unit arrested Ramadhani, also known as Bolang, 37, who allegedly sold orangutans to overseas customers.
The police previously arrested Bolang’s courier Reza Heryadi in the Harjosari subdistrict of Medan on Sept. 27. The police also confiscated evidence of Reza’s wildlife trading, including two orangutans, a male and a female, both approximately only five months old. (ami)