RSAF regular admits picking up pregnant pangolin from park connector and selling it

SINGAPORE: A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) regular admitted in court on Wednesday (Jan 10) to picking up a pregnant pangolin from a park connector and selling it for S$1,400 (US$1,050).

Damien Tan Guan Rong, 21, pleaded guilty to one charge of selling a protected wildlife species under the Wildlife Act. 

Another three charges will be taken into consideration for sentencing. These are for taking the protected animal from a park connector, keeping the pangolin in his Punggol flat and failing to provide it with adequate water and suitable food.

The court heard that Tan had taken the pangolin from a park connector along Yio Chu Kang Road in the early hours of Jul 2, 2023.

He then kept it for a few days in his home in Punggol and posted videos of it in an advertisement offering the pangolin for sale on a Telegram chat group about exotic pets in Singapore.

Tan began receiving offers for the pangolin and negotiated with some Telegram users on the price.

He knew that Sunda pangolins are insectivores and feed primarily on ants, said the prosecutor.

However, he was reluctant to look for the ants and instead tried feeding the pangolin fruits and vegetables.

Tan found a buyer in co-accused Lee Kian Han, a 35-year-old Singaporean man, and agreed to sell him the pangolin for S$1,400.

They met at about 2am on Jul 4, 2023, at a Housing Board block in Jurong West where Lee paid him for the animal via PayNow.

That same day, the National Parks Board (NParks) seized the pangolin from Lee after detecting the advertisement on Telegram.

An NParks officer met Lee in a covert operation, after offering to buy the pangolin for S$1,600.

Tan was arrested at his home and the pangolin was taken to a centre for wildlife rehabilitation and examination.

An NParks vet identified it as a Sunda pangolin, a protected species. An animal health assessment report found the creature to be pregnant and "very hungry" on admission.

The prosecutor said NParks has been unable to recover the sum of S$1,400 from Tan to date. At the last hearing, the prosecution had indicated that they would ask for a fine of S$8,000 to S$10,000.

Tan's lawyer, Mr Kalidass Murugaiyan, highlighted that his client has been donating to the Wildlife Conservation Society monthly.

The judge then asked why Tan did not make a donation of S$1,400 to cover the sum. The defence lawyer said he would liaise with the prosecutor on this.

The judge called for reports assessing Tan's suitability for probation and community service and adjourned the case to Feb 29 for sentencing.

In response to queries from CNA, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said that it is aware of Tan's conviction.

"The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) holds its service personnel to high standards of discipline and integrity. Service personnel who commit offences will be dealt with in accordance with the law," MINDEF said.
 
"The SAF will initiate disciplinary actions upon the conclusion of court hearings."

For selling a protected wildlife species, an offender can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to S$50,000, or both.