THREE Vietnamese nationals, including a woman and her younger brother, have been sentenced to a combined RM128.9 million in fines and 65 years in prison after being convicted on Thursday at the Kuantan Sessions Court for storing almost 1,000 parts of protected wildlife without a permit nearly three years ago.
The court, presided over by Judge Maimoonah Aid, ordered that all prison sentences ranging from 15 months to 12 years for the accused – Bui Thi Ngan, 55, her brother Bui Van Noi, 48, and their associate Bui Van Anh, 37 – run concurrently from the date of their arrest in November 2023.
Each faces additional imprisonment of more than eight years if the fines are not paid.
The prosecution detailed that the trio had kept 67 wild boar parts, 59 porcupine spines, four muntjac deer parts, three Asian elephant tusks, three wild pig portions, three wolf parts, 56 tiger parts, 493 sun bear parts, 276 clouded leopard parts, 20 binturong (bearcat) parts, a desert goat head, eight serval cat parts, and a python segment.
“All offences were committed jointly at a residential premises on Jalan Sungai Lembing, Kampung Sungai Charu, Panching, on 15 November 2023,” Sinar Harian cited the court documents as revealing.
The defendants were charged under Section 68(1)(b) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, which stipulates a minimum fine of RM150,000 per wildlife item or derivative, and a maximum prison term of 15 years.
They were also charged under Section 60(1)(b) of the same act, carrying fines of up to RM50,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Amanina Mohamad Anuar of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), argued for heavy penalties, citing the seriousness of the offences, public interest, and the importance of protecting endangered species.
The trial heard testimony from ten prosecution witnesses and three defence witnesses.
In their appeal for leniency, defence counsel Datuk Zaharman Zainal Abidin highlighted the personal circumstances of the accused.
He noted that Bui Thi Ngan had previously worked as a room cleaner earning RM2,000 to support her family, Bui Van Noi was employed as a driver, and Bui Van Anh worked as an electrician with a monthly income between RM1,500 and RM2,000.
All three had no prior criminal records and had entered Malaysia legally.
“They have been cooperative throughout their remand since November 2023, have expressed remorse, and pledged not to repeat these offences,” the lawyer said.
However, Amanina stressed the need for a stern sentence, noting the gravity of the crimes and the public interest in safeguarding Malaysia’s protected wildlife.
The defendants were escorted from the court by Perhilitan officers following the sentencing. - February 19, 2026
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