Smuggle 24 Putehs into Singapore

He tries to smuggle 24 birds into S'pore in waist pouch
This article was published in The New Paper (Monday, Apr 02, 2012)

By the time the bird smuggler's ferry departed Batam, Indonesia, and reached Singapore at 9.30am last Saturday, seven of the baby birds had died.

Malaysian Lim Chia Ming was sentenced to two weeks' jail yesterday for importing two dozen newborn Oriental White-eye birds without a licence from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), reported The Straits Times.

The 55-year-old squeezed each bird into individual tiny boxes tucked into a cloth pouch, which he wore under his clothes throughout the 21/2-hour trip.

Causing distress

On top of the jail term, he was also fined $4,000 for causing distress to the hatchlings by keeping them in the small boxes, which measured 7.5cm by 2.5cm by 2.5cm - slightly larger than a matchbox.

Lim pleaded guilty to both offences.

The court heard that he was visiting his girlfriend in Batam last Friday when he visited a bird shop there.

He then informed the Indonesian owner of his intention to smuggle the birds.

The owner sold 24 birds to Lim and passed him 24 perforated boxes.

Lim used a borrowed cage to transport the birds to his girlfriend's house.

At 7am the following day, the owner met Lim at the house to assist with the packing of the birds, also known as mata puteh in Malay.

At about 9.30am, when Lim reached Singapore, he was caught by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officers during a routine check at the Singapore Cruise Centre.

The AVA bans the import of birds from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza-affected countries like Indonesia to safeguard Singapore against the introduction of animal diseases.

The Oriental White-Eye is popular with bird lovers. Hatchlings are commonly sold for $250.

While it remains unknown how much Lim paid for the birds in Batam, bird lovers here suggested that prices might start from $2.