Kuala lumpur: An insurance agent pleaded not guilty today to four charges involving the possession and export of protected wildlife under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716). S. Balachandran, 47, made the plea before Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman at the Sessions Court here. He is accused of possessing one agile gibbon and two cuscuses, species protected under Schedules One and Two of Act 716, causing undue suffering.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Balachandran faces fines ranging from RM50,000 to RM100,000, or up to three years' imprisonment, for possession under Section 86(1)(c) of the Act. He is also charged with exporting the agile gibbon without a permit, an offense under Section 71, carrying a fine of RM20,000 for each fully protected wildlife, or part thereof, up to an aggregate of RM1 million, and imprisonment for up to 15 years.

Regarding the export of the cuscuses without a license, he is charged under Section 65 of Act 716, which carries a fine between RM20,000 and RM50,000 and imprisonment of up to one year. The charges allege the offenses took place at Gate C26, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1, at 10.10 pm on Sept 26.

Bail was denied by the judge after the prosecution opposed it due to the severity of the charges, with the case set for mention on Oct 31.