In separate Magistrates Courts in Bangi on Wednesday, two pork suppliers were fined for possessing unslaughtered pig carcasses without a Veterinary Services Department (JPV) licence.
The first supplier, Leong Weng Choon, was fined RM7,000 by the Bandar Baru Bangi Magistrate Court for possessing 11,510kg of unslaughtered pig carcasses at a licensed slaughterhouse in June last year.
The accused settled the fine after pleading guilty to the charge under Regulation 5(3) of the Animals (Control of Slaughter) Rules 2009.
The Selangor JPV enforcement team discovered the carcasses during a raid and the accused failed to produce a JPV licence for the ownership.
During the proceedings, the JPV prosecutor proposed a stiff penalty as the pig carcasses were found to be positive for African Swine Fever (ASF).
The accused’s lawyer, Lau Zher Tung, appealed for a minimum fine, stating that his client had repented and also had to bear the loss of the carcasses valued at RM100,000, which had to be disposed of.
At the Kajang Magistrates Court, another pork supplier, Low Kang Siong, was fined RM6,000 for possessing 702kg of unslaughtered pig carcasses at a licensed slaughterhouse in November last year.
The unrepresented accused appealed for a lenient sentence, stating that he was unaware of the JPV licence requirement.
The accused paid the fine. – Bernama
