Alleged turtle killers arrested, charged
Published:Friday | August 3, 2018 | 10:06 AM
The men who were seen in a video killing a turtle in 9 Miles, Bull Bay, St Andrew on June 6 have been arrested and charged for breaches of the Wildlife Protection Act.
They were arrested during a recent joint police operation conducted by officials from the Counter Terrorism & Organized Crime Investigation’s (C-TOC), the Mobile Reserve and the Motorised Patrol Division in the parish.
The men were granted $100,000 bail with surety and are scheduled to appear in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on August 22.
Morjorn Wallock, Director, Legal & Enforcement, National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) commended the high-level investigation undertaken by C-TOC’s Counter Terrorism Special Investigation Unit and the Kingston Eastern police.
Wallock said, “NEPA is pleased with the hard work that C-TOC has done to guarantee a prosecution of the matter.
“We will continue to be vigilant and take strong enforcement action against any individual who harms any of Jamaica’s protected species, and breaches the nation’s environmental and planning laws,” she said.
Wallock explained that if the men are found guilty, they will be liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 or face a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months.
The public is encouraged to continue to report potential breaches of Jamaica’s environmental and planning laws by calling NEPA at 876-754-7540 or toll-free 888-991-5005.
We want to hear from you! Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-449-0169, email us at editors@gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.