American to be grilled on wild 'pets'

JAKARTA: The Jakarta Police will question on Wednesday a U.S. national living in Cikupa, Tangerang, over allegations that he was keeping 20 protected animals at his house.

Chief of the resources and environmental department Adj. Sr. Comr. Ahmad Haydar said on Monday that they were investigating whether the suspect, Richard Kay Sherman, kept the protected animals privately or was involved in the protected animals trade.

Both activities violate Article 21 of Law No. 5/1990 on conservation of natural resources and the ecosystem, which prohibits the capture, possession and trade of protected animals. The offense carries a maximum penalty of six years' imprisonment and a Rp 100 million (US$11,904) fine.

"Sherman came to headquarters last week without lawyers, which is why we rescheduled the meeting to Wednesday. We hope he will come with legal representation," Haydar said.

The police had received tipoffs from sources on a "little zoo" at Sherman's house. The police found two orangutans (Pongo Pygmaeus), five long-tailed black monkeys (Pythecus Pyrrhus), three gibbons (Hylobates Syndactylus), two long-tailed parakeets (Eclectus Roratus), two black-headed parrots (Lorius Lory), three yellow-crested cockatoos (Cacatua Galerit) and three hornbills (Rhyticeros Undulatu). -- JP