Man caught selling parrots on Facebook fined $16,000

THE man caught red-handed offering 16 protected parrots for sale for a total of $6,400 via his Facebook page has been ordered by a San Fernando magistrate to pay a fine of $16,000.

Nasim Ali, 23, of Richplain Road, Diego Martin, appeared before senior magistrate Jo-Anne Connor in the San Fernando First Court on Thursday.

He pleaded guilty to the 16 charges laid by game warden Steve Seepersad of the Forestry Division. The charges said Ali had in his possession ten yellow-headed parrots and six white-eyed conures without a permit. Reports said Ali posted photographs of the birds, as he advertised their sale on his Facebook page.

The birds are protected under the Conservation of Wildlife Act – and if an individual is in possession of any during the closed season, he or she must have a permit.

Police said the advertisement was reported and game wardens II Andy Singh and Seepersad, and Visham Madhu and Jeremy Dindial, together with Southern Division Task Force police had the man under surveillance for some time.

Prosecutor PC Cleyon Seedan told the court Ali was arrested in Gasparillo at about 8.30 am on Wednesday inside his gold Nissan Almera car. The parrots, Seedan said were in boxes inside his trunk.

Attorney Janelle Ganess who represented Ali, said her client was going through some financial problems and wanted to sell the parrots to get money for his family.

Ali was ordered to pay $1,000 forthwith. And 60 days to pay the $15,000 in default three months hard labour. The magistrate ordered the parrots be placed in the care of the Emperor Valley Zoo.