A 25-year-old Malaysian man was sentenced to a total of eight months’ jail on Thursday (Apr 16) for smuggling seven puppies into Singapore, the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a joint news release.
For importing the dogs without relevant permits, he was slapped with a jail term of five months, and for subjecting them to unnecessary suffering or pain, he was sentenced to 3 months’ prison. The sentences will run consecutively.
The man was stopped by ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint for routine checks at about 8.20pm on Mar 30.
ICA officers found seven live puppies hidden underneath the front passenger seat. One of the puppies was found dead, while the remaining six appeared to be sedated, the agencies said.
AVA said after investigations that the puppies did not have food or water during their journey. Five of the puppies subsequently deteriorated in condition and died due to to illness, while the remaining puppy is under quarantine at AVA’s Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station (SAQS), where it is being observed for signs of infectious or contagious disease.
AVA highlighted the danger of smuggling animals into Singapore. AVA prosecutor, Yap Teck Chuan, said: “The danger of the introduction of diseases, such as rabies, into Singapore is real. The efforts of AVA and other authorities in regulating importation and enforcing quarantine measures, in order to ensure the safety of Singaporeans, will be futile if offenders continue to import puppies from dubious sources through illegal means.”
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
