Liège man convicted for illegal trade in wild animals
A 66-year-old retiree from the Liège region has been tried by the court of appeal for keeping and selling for years hundreds of exotic animals, some protected, in deplorable conditions.
Liège man convicted for illegal trade in wild animals
The Liège court of appeal has handed down a severe verdict against a man in his sixties from the region: one year of custodial imprisonment, a penalty of €56,000 and confiscations worth €100,000. The defendant was prosecuted for keeping and selling for many years hundreds of exotic animals, some of which belonged to species threatened with extinction.
The matter took a particularly serious turn on 17 May 2023, when a fire destroyed the defendant's hangar located in Angleur. A faulty electrical installation caused a fire that killed more than one hundred animals. This accident triggered a thorough investigation, with searches, sealing of premises and seizure of living animals.
The defendant's home housed an impressive collection: birds, poultry, coatis, small primates, canines, fish, Asian felines, pigeons, reptiles with shells, civets and Bengal hybrids. Officials from the Walloon Region had already noted on several occasions inadmissible captivity conditions: lack of hygiene, darkness, enclosures too small, dangerous equipment and electrocution risks. Parrots were crammed into small plastic boxes, whilst fish were kept in a dirty aquarium located in the basement.
The man's history dates back to 2005. Since that date, the authorities had already issued him with notices for unauthorised sale, irregularities in documentation, illegal possession of exotic species and animal welfare offences. Dissatisfied customers had also brought legal action to report the conditions of detention.
Between March and September 2024, an arrest warrant was issued against him for breach of seals, concealment of work, money laundering and unauthorised detention. The magistrates recognised all the facts alleged. In addition to the custodial sentence and pecuniary sanctions, the court imposed a permanent ban on him keeping more than ten animals.
Source: DHNET
Source: DHnet