By: Fitriani D Kurniasari

WWF-Indonesia Central Sumatra Program gave appreciation to a number of law enforcers in Sijunjung Regency, West Sumatra on August 6. The appreciation was given for the commitment of the District Police, District Attorney and District Court of Sijunjung Regency towards law enforcement on protected wildlife trade crimes.

Law enforcement officers of Sijunjung Regency, West Sumatra, have made a new history in law enforcement against protected wildlife crime cases in Indonesia. On June 7, 2018, the panel of judges at the Muaro Sijunjung District Court handed down a sentence of 4 (four) years and 6 (six) months imprisonment and a fine of Rp. 100 million to the convicted Ramli (55), a collector of illegal pangolin and sun bear trade.

For this encouraging verdict, Osmantri, Coordinator of the Wildlife Crime Team (WCT) WWF-Indonesia Central Sumatra Program visited the three agencies handling this case ranging from the Police, district attorney, to the District Court of Muaro Sijunjung to give appreciation.

"This is a case that attracts attention in law enforcement efforts on wildlife crime, and here we also see the consistency and commitment of the government, especially law enforcement officials in handling wildlife crime." Said Osmantri.

"The decision of the panel of judges is also historical, where the charges and verdicts are the highest in the record of crimes against wildlife using Law No.5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems (KSDAE) in Indonesia at this time." Osmantri continued.

The Chairman of the Muaro Sijunjung District Court, Rendra Yozar Dharma Putra, S.H, M.H who is also the presiding judge in this case welcomed the appreciation given by WWF-Indonesia. The appreciation at the Muaro Sijunjung District Court on Tuesday, August 6, 2018 was attended by member judges, Satrio Budiono, S.H, M.Hum and Agus Purwanto, S.H., M.H. as well as Zosprida as a substitute clerk.

"We are very grateful for the appreciation given, however, whatever the story we as law enforcement officers will continue to process this case in accordance with applicable laws, will still be sentenced as well," said Rendra Yoazr Dharma Putra, S.H, M.H.

In giving a verdict to the perpetrator, the head of the court as well as the head of the panel of judges handling this case said that the panel of judges considered the position of the perpetrator and also the number of animals that became evidence.

"One of the factors we sentenced the perpetrator was that the defendant was the main perpetrator. And from the evidence seized, there are so many animals. One of them is 32 pieces of bear hands and feet, it is clear that there is more than one tail." Rendra said.

In addition to giving appreciation to the panel of judges, WWF through its Wildlife Crime Team also gave appreciation to the Sijunjung District Attorney and the Sijunjung Resort Police.

The appreciation at the Sijunjung District Attorney's Office was welcomed by Intel Section Head Dimas Adhitya, S.H and accompanied by Public Prosecutor Elnida, SH. In the prosecution hearing on June 4, the prosecutor Elnida, SH read out the charges against the perpetrator, namely 5 (five) years in prison and a fine of Rp. 100 million rupiah. The charges, which came directly from the KSDA Task Force of the Attorney General's Office, are the maximum charges ever read using Law No. 5 of 1990 concerning KSDAE.

At Sijunjung Police, the appreciation was received by the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit (Kasat Reskrim) of Sijunjung Police, Iptu Wawan Darmawan, S.I.K. "This is our common obligation, with the appreciation and cooperation and attention from NGO colleagues when handling pangolin and bear cases at that time, we did not experience significant obstacles, because the prosecutor's office and the court paid more attention to this case. The handling of the case also did not take a long time, from the arrest, crime scene processing, investigation, to the submission of the case to the court process, the progress was very good." said Iptu Wawan.

The case of protected wildlife crime in Sijunjung is the first case in the last 10 years in this region. Ramli, alias Ali, was arrested by the Sijunjung Police Criminal Investigation Unit on January 17, 2018 based on a public report related to pangolin and sun bear trade in Kamang Baru, Sijunjung.

The evidence confiscated from the perpetrators at that time were 22 (twenty-two) pangolins (Manis javanica) in a dead and frozen state, and 32 (thirty-two) pieces of legs and 32 (thirty-two) pieces of hands of sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) which the perpetrators kept in the freezer (refrigerator). One live pangolin was secured from the perpetrator, which was later released by the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) to one of the conservation areas in West Sumatra.

Pangolins (Manis javanica) and sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) are protected animals whose status is regulated in Law No. 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems. On an international scale, both animals are included in Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species) of Wild Fauna and Flora, which prohibits all forms of trade in these endangered animals. Perpetrators who violate Law No. 5 of 1990 concerning KSDAE are punishable by 5 (five) years of imprisonment and a fine of Rp. 100 million.

Previously, WWF-Indonesia Central Sumatra Program also appreciated the highest verdict against protected wildlife crime in 2016 at the District Court of Rengat, Riau. The verdict of 4 (four) years in prison and a fine of Rp. 60 million imposed on two defendants was the highest verdict on the Sumatran Tiger skin trade case (Panthera tigris sumatrae) at that time.