RSAF regular sentenced to probation for selling pregnant pangolin he picked up at park connector
The pangolin was seized by NParks in a covert operation and found to be very hungry.
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SINGAPORE: A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) regular has been sentenced to probation for picking up a pregnant pangolin from a park connector and selling it for S$1,400 (US$1,050).
Damien Tan Guan Rong, 21, was ordered to undergo a year of supervised probation.
Tan had pleaded guilty in January to one count of selling a protected wildlife species under the Wildlife Act.
Other charges taken into consideration include taking a protected animal from a park connector and failing to provide it with adequate water and suitable food.
Tan had taken the pangolin from a park connector along Yio Chu Kang Road in the early hours of Jul 2, 2023.
He kept it in his Punggol flat for a few days, advertising it for sale on Telegram and negotiating with interested buyers on the price.
Despite knowing that Sunda pangolins feed primarily on ants, he was reluctant to look for them and instead fed the animal fruits and vegetables.
He sold the pangolin to co-accused Lee Kian Han in Jurong West on Jul 4 last year.
The pangolin was seized by the National Parks Board (NParks) that same day. NParks had detected the advertisement on Telegram and sent an officer to buy it from Lee in a covert operation.
The pangolin was found to be pregnant and very hungry on admission.
At the previous hearing, the prosecution sought a fine of S$8,000 to S$10,000.
The prosecutor also said NParks had been unable to recover the sum of S$1,400 from Tan.
Defence lawyers Kalidass Murugaiyan and Mr Koh Boon Yang said their client had been donating to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) monthly.
The judge then asked why Tan did not make a donation of S$1,400 to cover the sum.
On Thursday, the defence updated the court that Tan has since made donations exceeding S$2,000 to the WCS.
"He's from a fairly simple background. A very average family in terms of economic background and really this is a significant sum of money for him, but he's done it because he doesn't want to retain ill-gotten gains," said Mr Murugaiyan.
He said his client chose the society to donate to because it appeared to be one of the biggest players in wildlife conservation.Â
Tan had been assessed for probation and a community service order.
He was found suitable for probation and the judge sentenced him to this, saying it would also include 80 hours of community service.
Tan's parents, who were both in court, furnished a bond of S$5,000 to ensure their son's good behaviour during the period of probation.
A curfew requiring Tan to be indoors from 11pm to 6am was also imposed. If official work duties require this curfew to be varied, his work supervisors must provide prior approval, the court noted.
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said in response to CNA's queries that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will take appropriate disciplinary actions against Tan now that court proceedings have concluded.Â
"The Singapore Armed Forces 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," the ministry added.
In a statement to CNA on Mar 6, WCS regional director of the Southeast Asian Archipelago Martin Callow said the society is not associated with Tan in any way.
"All donations he has sent to WCS have been returned to him," said Mr Callow.
For selling a protected wildlife species, an offender can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to S$50,000, or both.
The co-accused Lee had been set to plead guilty earlier this week, but his case has since been adjourned to March.
