Sentence to one year for smuggling orangutan, Russian burst into tears

Russian national Andrei Zhestkov in Denpasar Court on July 11, 2019. (kanalbali/KR12)

Denpasar, kanalbali.com - Andrei Zhestkov, 27, suddenly burst into tears when panel of judges announced that he was sentenced to one year imprisonment for trying to smuggle baby orangutan. The Russian man was also required to fine to Rp 10 million, or serve an additional two months prison term.

“Found the defendant Andrei Zhestkov legally and convincingly guilty of transporting a protected wild animal," said presiding judge Bambang Ekaputra on hearing at Denpasar District Court, Thursday, July 11.

Zhestkov was found guilty for violating article 40 of the 1990 Conservation Law. Earlier, the Badung prosecutor only demanded the Denpasar court to sentence the defendant to six months imprisonment.

The court considered that the defendant's act contradicted with the law and the government's attempt to protecting animal in Indonesia. Panel of judges also considered that the defendant feel sorry and polite during the trial.

Zhestkov was arrested at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in March as he was nabbed carrying a drugged orangutan in his luggage. He had been planning to take a flight back to Russia via Seoul, South Korea, when airport aviation security officers detected the 2-year-old orangutan, along with two geckos and four chameleons. (kanalbali/KR12)