Indian national sentenced for smuggling 58 vulnerable tortoises into Singapore

An Indian national, Abdul Jaffar Haji Ali, 40, received a 16-month jail sentence in Singapore for smuggling 58 endangered Indian star tortoises. He transported the reptiles in his luggage, intending to travel from India to Jakarta via Singapore. One tortoise died en route, and 22 were found underweight. Previously, Ali also faced charges under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act and the Animals and Birds Act for failing to ensure the well-being of the tortoises.