Councillor with tiger pelt arrested

BENGKULU: A prosecutor in North Bengkulu regency demanded a local district court here on Wednesday sentence a councillor to one year in prison for possession of a fresh, rare tiger pelt. In the trial, presided over by Judge Makroeq Nur, R. Radjagukguk, the prosecutor accused that the defendant, Rabihil Kana, 44, had intentionally kept, possessed, carried and traded an animal which is protected.

The defendant had purchased the pelt from an unidentified person for Rp 2.5 million in October 2003.

The unknown person went to his house with the fresh pelt and offered it to him for Rp 2.5 million, which the defendant immediately paid.

After the deal, the defendant asked the person to preserve the animal pelt, complete with its head.

On Dec. 9, 2003, the defendant took the tiger pelt to room no. 26, Hotel Pasir Putih, Bengkulu. The pelt was placed in a pail containing methylated spirits to prevent it from decomposing. The accused took the pelt to the hotel as he had offered it to a prospective buyer, Stefanus Felixilius, who promised to pay the defendant Rp 5 million.

Before the transaction was completed, the local police and forest rangers arrived and arrested the defendant. -- Antara