A man in Bali’s Buleleng regency is facing up to five years in prison after he allegedly hunted a protected species at the West Bali National Park last week.
The suspect, identified as 33-year-old K, was caught at the park on the evening of Sept. 29, during which time authorities were conducting patrols.
“Our team found someone carrying a weapon and when we went to check he was also carrying deer meat, its bones and head,” Buleleng Police Chief Andrian Pramudinato said, adding that K was immediately taken to the police station afterward.
Police seized two deer skulls, a machete, and five kilograms of deer meat, among other things, during the arrest. K has been charged with violation of articles under Indonesia’s 1990 Conservation Law, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of IDR100 million (US$7,015).
At least four deer species are protected under Indonesian law. Authorities identified the hunted deer as a kijang, whose Latin name is Muntiacus muntjak.
Authorities say they are digging deeper into the case in the hopes to find others who might be connected to the crime.
