A man has been charged with unlawfully transporting over 5,000 red-eared terrapins from Singapore to India. Rafique Syed Hariza Ali Hussain, a 40-year-old Indian national and Singapore permanent resident, was charged on March 20 with one count each under the Wildlife Act and the Animals and Birds Act.
The charges state that Rafique exported 5,160 red-eared terrapins from Singapore’s Changi Airport to India’s Coimbatore International Airport on November 7, 2023 according to the CNA report.
The terrapins were allegedly packed into his two personal bags, which were not ventilated, causing the animals to suffer unnecessarily.
Red-eared sliders are considered wildlife under Singapore’s Wildlife Act and are native to North America. They are a popular pet trade species but are also known as one of the World’s 100 Worst Invasive Alien Species, posing a significant threat to native aquatic biodiversity.
Rafique was offered bail at S$35,000 and is expected to return to court next month. If found guilty of exporting wildlife without written approval, he could face up to a year in jail, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both. Additionally, for failing to ensure the terrapins were not suffering unnecessarily, he could face the same penalties.
It is reported that Rafique’s Singaporean friend, wife, or daughter may bail him out. The charges against him are amalgamated, meaning he could face double the penalties for each offense.
If he is found guilty of exporting wildlife without written approval, he could be sentenced to up to one year in jail, fined up to S$10,000, or both. Additionally, for failing to ensure the well-being of the terrapins involved, he could face the same penalties, potentially doubling the punishment for each offense.
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