Malaysian jailed in biggest seizure of tiger parts

Kuala Lumpur, Feb 8 (AP) Activists say a man arrested in Malaysia's largest seizure of trafficked tiger parts was not given a long enough jail sentence. Wildlife trade monitoring group TRAFFIC says a northern district court convicted Mohd Nor Shahrizam Nasir yesterday of illegally possessing skulls and bones of 22 tigers, 8 tiger skins and 9 African elephant tusks at his home last February. The court imposed sentences totaling 60 months on three charges, but Mohd Nor would serve 24 months as the sentences run concurrently. Each charge carries a maximum five-year sentence and minimum USD 32,000. Mohd Nor wasn't fined. TRAFFIC's Southeast Asia director William Schaedla today called it "a demoralizing finale to what should have been a victory against wildlife crime." Kedah court officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment.(AP) BOD 02081304 NNNN