American to be grilled on wild 'pets'

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