Couple jailed for smuggling dogs into Singapore from Malaysia for sale

SINGAPORE: A couple caught smuggling dogs into Singapore from Malaysia were jailed on Wednesday (Jun 4).

Soon Boon Khong and Reina Wong Si Qi, both 28, will each serve three weeks' jail after they pleaded guilty to two charges of importing a dachshund and a pomeranian without a licence on Feb 2, 2023. 

Another two charges of smuggling another two dogs - a poodle and a pomeranian - the day before were taken into consideration for sentencing. 

In late 2022, the pair noticed a demand for pets at prices cheaper than those offered at local pet shops.

They began advertising animals from Malaysia for sale via social media and chat groups hosted on Telegram.

Initially, the couple only introduced potential buyers to sellers and would earn a fee of between S$50 (US$39) and S$100 for the referral. 

Subsequently, sellers said they preferred to deal directly with them, so the duo became involved in the transportation of the animals.

They would meet couriers to collect animals smuggled into Singapore from Malaysia before delivering them to buyers. 

The accused persons also smuggled animals into Singapore for between S$900 and S$1,000 per transaction.

In January 2023, a woman, Ms Tok Su Wen, contacted the pair to buy a dachshund after seeing their advertisement on Telegram. Ms Tok agreed to pay S$2,300 for the dog. 

Soon and Wong collected the dachshund and a pomeranian from a pet shop in Johor Bahru on Feb 2, 2023. The dachshund was for Ms Tok, and the pomeranian was Soon's gift to Wong. 

Soon paid RM2,500 for the dachshund and RM1,500 for the pomeranian.

That evening, they returned to Singapore and their car was stopped for a routine inspection at Woodlands Checkpoint. 

Both dogs were found at the footwell of the front passenger seat, with Wong's bag used to hide them. 

Both dogs were sent for microchipping, physical examinations and quarantine.

They were found to have umbilical hernias, a birth condition. The dachshund had a bloated belly, alopecia on its face and dirty ears with mild dandruff. 

Otherwise, the dogs were alert, responsive and hydrated with normal body condition and temperature.

Ms Tok was fined S$7,000 in December last year in Singapore's first prosecution against a buyer for abetting animal smuggling. 

In mitigation, the couple's lawyer Tan Cheng Kiong said that his clients only smuggled dogs on Feb 1, and Feb 2, 2023, with no further evidence of other smuggling. 

He added that the dogs were not mistreated and did not have canine diseases. 

The lawyer urged the court to fine rather than jail the couple as they were first-time offenders. Jail would be more appropriate for repeat offenders, or in cases with mistreatment or syndicates, said Mr Tan. 

He pointed to the pair's young age and said they have learnt their lesson. In the alternative, Mr Tan argued for a "very short sentence" for the duo. 

Addressing the court, Wong said that the two had ensured that the dogs were healthy by checking that they were vaccinated. 

District Judge Wong Li Tein found the couple's culpability higher than Ms Tok, as Ms Tok had committed the offence for herself, but the accused couple smuggled for trade and profit.  

Both had advertised their trade, indicating that the offences were not opportunistic, Judge Wong said. 

She noted that the offences posed a public health risk that Singapore's densely populated community could not afford to take. The judge felt that a jail term was warranted. 

For importing an animal without a licence, an offender can be jailed for up to 12 months, fined up to S$10,000, or both.