Singapore: A 40-year-old Indian national, Abdul Jaffar Haji Ali, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for smuggling 58 Indian star tortoises into Singapore. Ali pleaded guilty on Monday to illegally transporting the tortoises in August this year.

Ali landed at Changi Airport in Singapore on August 29, 2024, from India, with plans to continue his journey to Jakarta. The tortoises were discovered hidden in his personal luggage, which had been sealed without any ventilation, as reported by PTI. The Indian star tortoise is listed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Tragically, one tortoise died during transit, and authorities found that 22 others were underweight.

According to court documents, Ali received the tortoises from an associate referred to as "Bhai," who also coordinated his travel and accommodation. Bhai handed Ali a packed bag in Chennai on August 28 and asked him to deliver it to Jakarta. Ali admitted he did not inspect the contents of the bag before traveling.

Lim Chong Hui, a prosecutor from Singapore's National Parks Board (NParks), noted that Ali had sufficient opportunity to check the luggage in Bhai's presence but failed to do so.

Ali had also been charged earlier under Singapore's Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act and the Animals and Birds Act for neglecting the welfare of the tortoises.