Beijing News (reporter Bo Qiyu) Beijing Fangshan man Zhang Mou online purchase of 2 parrots, identified as nationally protected animals, the market price of a total of 30,000 yuan, after Zhang mou was suspected of illegally purchasing rare and endangered wild animals was prosecuted. On August 10, the Fangshan District People's Court of Beijing Municipality held a public online trial of the case, and Zhang mou admitted guilt and accepted punishment in court. The case was not pronounced in court.
Fangshan District People's Court online trial scene. Source: Fangshan Court
Prosecutors allege that in October 2019, Zhang purchased two parrots through an online platform in a residential area of Xilu Street in Fangshan District, Beijing. On July 9, 2020, the residents of the community picked up one of the gray parrots at the entrance of the corridor, and after online inquiries, they found that the gray parrot was a nationally protected animal, so they called the police. Later, the police found another green parrot in Zhang's home.
According to the forensic identification center, the grey parrot is the African grey parrot, a national first-class protected animal, and the green parrot is a green-cheeked cone-tailed parrot, a national second-level protected animal. According to the beijing Fangshan District Price Certification Center, the market price of African grey parrots is 20,000 yuan, and the market price of green-cheeked cone-tailed parrots is 10,000 yuan.
During the investigation stage, Zhang said that he bought the two parrots out of interest and hobbies, and was completely unaware that they belonged to the state protected animals, until the public security organs restored his chat records with the seller, and Zhang only bowed his head and repented in front of the evidence.
"I saw it on the mobile phone app at the time, and I felt that this bird looked very good, so I communicated the price with the merchant online, one about 300 yuan, one 6,000 yuan." During the trial, Zhang mou stated the process of buying parrots online, expressed great regret and was willing to admit guilt and accept punishment.
The prosecution believes that Zhang Mou knew that the two parrots involved in the case were rare and endangered wild animals under national key protection, and had been illegally purchased for other purposes, the facts of the crime were clear, the evidence was credible and sufficient, and he should be investigated for criminal responsibility for the crime of illegally purchasing rare and endangered wild animals, and his statutory sentence was fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years or criminal detention, and he was fined. In view of the fact that Zhang Mou has confessed the circumstances and admits guilt and accepts punishment, he may be given a lenient punishment. The prosecution recommended that the court sentence Zhang to two years in prison and a fine, which may be suspended.
The verdict was not pronounced in court.
It is understood that the two parrots involved in the case have been taken over by a wildlife management department in Beijing and are in good health.
The judge suggested that the precious and endangered wild animals provided for in China's Criminal Law include wild animals under national first- and second-level protection listed in the List of Wild Animals under National Key Protection, wild animals listed in Appendices I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and the above-mentioned species domesticated and bred. It is illegal to buy rare, endangered wildlife, whether for profit, for personal use, or for other purposes.
Proofread by Li Shihui