Smuggling protected animals?

Smuggling protected animals?

In its May 20 edition, Bisnis Indonesia reported that two Japanese were detained by police at Sukarno-Hatta Airport for smuggling endangered animals. The smuggled animals were: 33 malu- malu birds (all of which died), three rajawali (black hawks), four elang (eagles) and two owls.

If convicted, the defendants could be sentenced to five years in prison and be fines Rp 100 million. What baffles me is the potential severity of the punishment, because I believe that the Japanese were unaware that the animals were protected. Furthermore, if the animals are protected, why were they for sale at bird markets?

Again if these Japanese really had the intention of smuggling, they would not have been so naive as to show those animals (including the dead ones) to customs officials in broad daylight.

A. DJUANA

Jakarta