A 39-year-old woman in Bali’s Jembrana regency was arrested recently, as police alleged that she had bought four green turtles with the intention to resell the endangered species.
The woman, identified by her initials SA, reportedly acquired the green turtles from a fisherman and had bought them for IDR2 million (US$137) each.
“The suspect intended to resell the green turtles,” Yogie Pramagita, General Crimes Unit Head in Jembrana precinct, said yesterday.
Authorities received a tip-off from local residents about a person who was keeping green turtles at their home, leading to an investigation that brought them to SA’s house in the Negara district.
“The suspect said this is her first time doing such a thing,” Yogie said.
SA has been charged with articles under Indonesia’s conservation law, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum fine of IDR100 million (US$6,875).
The green turtle, or Chelonia mydas, is a protected species in Indonesia under a 1999 Government Regulation on preserving flora and fauna species. This species of large sea turtle is also listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
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