Updated: 03/14/2014 19:25 | By Channel NewsAsia
Man jailed for smuggling puppies into Singapore
SINGAPORE: A Malaysian man was on Friday sentenced to six months' jail for smuggling 43 puppies into Singapore.
He received the sentence of five months for importing the puppies without the relevant permits, and another one month for committing cruelty to the animals.
The puppies were found in a Malaysia-registered lorry at the Woodlands Checkpoint during a routine check on March 6.
They were housed in metal trays stacked on top of each other in two sealed cardboard boxes.
The case was referred to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore for investigation and the puppies seized.
AVA said further investigation showed the puppies had been sedated and transported not in accordance to its guidelines.
AVA guidelines require pets to be transported into Singapore in containers that comply with the International Air Transport Association standards.
One of the puppies died shortly after arriving at AVA's Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station, which may have been a result of the poor transport conditions and sedation.
AVA said the remaining puppies are currently under quarantine and it is working with their Malaysian counterparts to return the puppies to Malaysia. - CNA/de
