A 43-year-old Malaysian man, Manhentharan, has been sentenced to eight weeks in prison and fined 2,500 SGD for smuggling a puppy into Singapore from Malaysia. He hid the puppy in a laundry bag and placed it in the spare tire compartment of his vehicle.
Manhentharan pleaded guilty to three charges. These included importing an animal without a license and failing to provide proper care as an owner. He was caught on October 20, 2023, at Singapore’s Tuas checkpoint during an inspection by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority.
Background and Motivation
The court revealed that Manhentharan owned a transportation business in Malaysia. Due to financial difficulties, he agreed to smuggle animals into Singapore after being approached by an unknown person. Initially, he refused, knowing it was illegal, but he later complied because of his financial struggles.
The Smuggling Operation
Manhentharan was introduced to a person known as “Mr. Dog,” who provided details of the smuggling operation. For each trip, Manhentharan was paid 60 SGD, regardless of how many animals he smuggled. The identities of the other individuals involved in the operation remain unknown. Additionally, the origins of the animals being smuggled have not been revealed.
