Turtle killers fined $50k at Half Way Tree Parish Court
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Two men who were video-taped killing a turtle at 9 Miles Bull Bay in St Andrew on June 6 were fined $50,000 when they appeared in the Half Way Tree Parish Court on Wednesday.
The two, Michael Harris and Clive McNuff, were fined for breaches under the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) after previously pleading guilty to hunting a protected animal (WLPA section 6) and possessing the whole or any part of a protected animal (WLPA section 6A).
Harris and McNuff were arrested in July 2018, charged and granted bail with surety in the sum of $100,000, following an investigation undertaken by the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation (C-TOC) Branch.
Manager, Enforcement Branch of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Miguel Nelson, praised the work of the JCF in the matter.
Meanwhile, NEPA is reminding the public that turtles are protected under the WLPA. Under section 6 of the WLPA, individuals found guilty of hunting or in possession (whole or part) of any protected animal are liable to pay a maximum fine of $100,000.00 or face a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months.
