Man held over viral video of turtle mishandling in Cherating
The suspect, who tested positive for drugs, was picked up at his home nearby at about 1pm today.
Authorities are still tracking down his two accomplices.
Acting Kuantan police chief Superintendent Mohd Adli Mat Daud said the Pahang Fisheries Department lodged a report at about 10am today after several video clips went viral showing three men disturbing a sea turtle that had come ashore to lay eggs.
"Visitors at the beach recorded the men carrying the turtle at around 7am. The men were seen moving the turtle towards a hole they had dug earlier.
"Investigations revealed that the men had carried the turtle and dug the hole in an attempt to expedite the egg-laying process.
"However, after realising they were being closely watched by a group of visitors, they decided to release the turtle back into the sea," he said in a statement today.
Adli said the suspects are believed to have been attempting to collect the turtle eggs for illegal sale or personal use.
He said police were able to arrest one of the suspects based on the viral footage and are working closely with the Fisheries Department to locate the remaining two men.
Adli said that under Section 27 of the Fisheries Act 1985, it is an offence to fish, disturb, harass, catch, or take any aquatic mammal or turtle, and offenders may be fined up to RM5,000.
In the video, three men can be seen trying to carry a turtle that had emerged from the sea before one of them suddenly slips and falls on the sand.
A visitor present at the beach is heard telling the men to let the animal go.
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