Man fined $2,200 for keeping wild animals and obstructing AVA's investigation

Raymi Thye Bin Mustafa, 24, was fined $1,000 for keeping a hedgehog illegally and another $1,200 for obstructing the investigation by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) on Wednesday (May 17), said the AVA.

Four other charges involving other hedgehogs were also taken into consideration during the sentencing.

AVA received feedback about the sale of a hedgehog on Gumtree, an online market platform, on Jan 10.

To clamp down on the illegal sale of hedgehogs, which are not allowed in Singapore for reasons including the threat to our bio-diversity if released into the environment, AVA conducted an undercover operation in which an AVA officer posed as an interested buyer and arranged a transaction with the seller.

During the face to face transaction, the seller tried to flee when the AVA officer identified himself and asked the man to produce his identification card. Other AVA officers subsequently apprehended the man and seized the hedgehog that was with him.

The man then led the officers to his home, where another four hedgehogs were seized. The hedgehogs are currently being taken care of by the Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS).

Members of the public with information on such illicit activities are encouraged to contact AVA at 6805 2992 or via AVA’s online feedback form. All information shared with AVA will be kept strictly confidential.