The Shah Alam High Court ordered businessman Anson Wong Keng Liang to be jailed for five years for exporting 95 boa constrictors without a permit two months ago.

Judge Mohtarudin Baki meted out the sentence after allowing the appeal by the prosecution against the sentence imposed on Wong by the Sepang Sessions court in September.

Mohtarudin said Wong, however, need not pay any fine and that if he had paid the previous fine imposed by the Sessions Court, the money should be returned to him.

On Sept 6, the Sessions Court sentenced Wong to six months jail and fined him a total of RM190,000 after he pleaded guilty to exporting the snakes, which are protected species under the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008.

The Act provides for a maximum fine of RM100,000 for each animal or a maximum of seven years' jail or both, upon conviction.

Wong, nicknamed the 'Lizard King', was charged with committing the offence at KL International Airport at 8.50pm on Aug 26.

The snakes were found in his baggage while he was on transit there from Penang en route to Jakarta.

Wong had paid the fine and is serving the jail sentence meted out by the Sepang Sessions Court.

- Bernama