Puppy smuggler jailed for 10 weeks for smuggling in 21 pups from Malaysia
A sales representative hoping to earn $1,050 by smuggling in 21 puppies from Malaysia not only received no payment but was sentenced on Monday to 10 weeks in jail. Koh Cheow Chuan pleaded guilty last month to bringing in the 13 pomeranians and seven pugs without a licence from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA). The 28-year-old also admitted to subjecting the animals to unnecessary cruelty by transporting them in the spare tyre compartment of his car.
A district court heard that Koh met a man, known to him only as "Noel", in August last year. He had initially turned down Noel's offer to earn $50 from each pet smuggled in from Malaysia. However, he agreed to do it three months later.
On Nov 20, he drove into Johor Baru. He had been instructed by Noel to remove the spare tyre from his car boot. At the car park at the Jusco shopping mall there, a man parked his car next to Koh's and placed the 21 sedated puppies on top of some newspapers and ice packs in the spare tyre compartment.
Koh was then told to return to Singapore and to await further instructions from Noel. However, he was pulled up for inspection at the Woodlands Checkpoint and the pups were discovered by officers there. Two of the pups died while under observation at the Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station.
16 puppies seized by AVA in November have found homes
Sixteen of the 21 puppies seized at the Woodlands Checkpoint in November last year , have been adopted. Among the adopters, are Ms Stephanie Koh, 24, and her fiance Lance Lee, 26, who brought a pomeranian called Domo, home last month.
A spokesman for the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) said that the seized puppies were very young and had suffered immense stress during the smuggling process. Despite AVA officers showering the puppies with special care at the Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station, two puppies died.
When offered for adoption in March this year, more than 320 people expressed their interest. About 60 applicants were then selected for the adoption interviews, which were conducted in collaboration with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in April. The most suitable applicants were selected and notified in June.
AVA is now working with SPCA on finding suitable homes for the remaining three puppies. A sales representative, Koh Cheow Chuan, who was hoping to earn $1,050 by smuggling in 21 puppies from Malaysia was sentenced to 10 weeks' in jail on Monday. Since 2011, 60 dogs have been seized by the authorities from smugglers. None tested positive for rabies. Prior to being adopted, these animals were given full vaccinations, sterilised, microchipped and licensed.