SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man has been jailed three months for illegally importing three red-whiskered bulbul birds from Malaysia to Singapore in a Malaysia-registered private taxi., the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said in a news release on Monday.
Jalal Basiron Samad, 47, was also sentenced to a concurrent three-month jail term for subjecting the birds to unreasonable or unnecessary pain or suffering.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) found three live birds in a haversack beneath the front passenger seat of the taxi when it was crossing into Singapore at Woodlands Checkpoint on Mar 4.
Two of the birds were squeezed individually inside separate PVC pipes measuring 15cm by 4cm, with each pipe wrapped in a small piece of green nylon netting and secured with rubber bands. The other bird was wrapped tightly inside a piece of paper measuring 19cm by 8cm by 6cm and secured with staples. There was no food or water provided for the birds.
For importing the three live birds from Malaysia without a licence and subjecting them to unreasonable or unnecessary pain or suffering, Jalal could have been sentenced to a fine of up to S$10,000 and imprisoned for up to one year for each charge.
AVA said that Singapore remains one of the few countries in the region to remain free from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or bird flu, through strict import regulations and enforcement, and by working closely with partner enforcement agencies to deter illegal import across borders.
Permits from AVA are required to bring live animals or birds into Singapore, and ornamental birds can only be imported from countries free from notifiable avian influenza. In addition, the birds must be tested to be free from the avian influenza virus and undergo a 21-day pre-export quarantine prior to export to Singapore, the authority said.
Members of the public with information on such activities can contact AVA at 6805 2992 or via AVA’s online feedback form. All information shared will be kept strictly confidential, AVA said.
