KARACHI: The two men recently arrested with turtle meat in Thatta district were released after being made to pay a small fine of Rs25,000 in violation of the Sindh Turtles and Tortoises Protection, Conservation and Compensation Rules, 2014, it emerged on Monday.

While sources in the wildlife department confirmed to Dawn that the offenders were released, a Sindh wildlife conservator denied the development that has taken place at a time when the seizure of a Hong Kong-bound consignment containing over 4,000 dried parts of freshwater turtles is being investigated.

Know more: Bid to smuggle ‘largest’ turtle parts shipment foiled

The sources said that a wildlife official had arrested Allah Dino and Majeed Jogi in Makli some two days ago for carrying two kilograms of turtle meat.

They were released after they paid the fine of Rs25,000, a source added.

“The men told us that they intended to take the turtle meat to Karachi from where it is taken to other countries,” said a wildlife official in Thatta. He said his superior officers told him that the men were released after they had paid Rs25,000.

The sources, however, pointed out that the staff didn’t carry out any exercise to determine the severity of the crime in accordance with the Sindh Turtles and Tortoises Protection, Conservation and Compensation Rules, 2014.

Poaching, catching, trapping, netting of turtles and tortoises and using them as whole parts, products or derivatives for any purpose is prohibited under the turtles and tortoises law as well as the Sindh Protection Ordinance, 1972. The rules also ban transportation, petting, caging and export of turtles and tortoise as live or dead, as a whole, parts, products and derivatives.

The rules impose a heavy fine on the offender as each head of turtle and tortoise is to be treated as a separate offence. For instance, according to Clause 9 (i), the value of a turtle and tortoise confiscated as dead and the one that dies during inquiry is fixed as Rs20,000 per head and shall be recovered from the offender in addition to fine and compensation, while compounding the offence under provisions of the ordinance. An investigating team, the sources said, also raided the company addresses mentioned in its papers but they were found fake. “We are actively pursuing this case and taking help of all relevant agencies including the police and the wildlife department and hoping to making a breakthrough soon,” claimed additional collector customs Irfan Javed.

The Clause 9 (ii) says: “The parts, products and the derivatives of turtles and tortoises recovered and confiscated shall be determined in terms of ‘heads’ of turtles exploited and used and the value shall be charged as Rs20,000 per head.”

According to wildlife officials, the offender is also bound to pay a fine for Rs12,000 per head of turtle and tortoise for preventing the species from rendering their ecosystem services and causing them shock by withdrawing them from their habitat. “The cost incurred for holding of turtles and tortoise outside habitat and its feeding during inquiry, its transportation and repatriation shall be recovered from the offender on actual basis while compounding the offence or Rs1,000 shall be recovered in lump-sum for each head of animal,” Clause 10 of the rules says.

According to these rules, the provision of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1871 shall inter alia be applicable for causing cruelty to turtles and tortoises. The offender can get one-year imprisonment.

Upon contact, Sindh wildlife conservator Javed Mahar initially expressed ignorance about the incident and said he would talk to the relevant officials and then respond.

Later, Mr Mahar said: “My staff have told me that the matter is under investigation and the arrested men haven’t been released.” He, however, could neither tell about the police station where the arrested men were being kept nor could he provide details of an first offence report.

Only last week a Hong Kong-bound consignment containing over 4,000 dried parts of freshwater turtles was confiscated by the customs authorities at the Karachi port. Sources said the case was registered with the customs judge on March 3 under section 154 of the criminal procedure code against the proprietor of M/S Hongda Trading Company, Ali Ahmed, and the interior ministry had been requested to place his name on the Exit Control List.

Published in Dawn March 10th, 2015

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