Raama Mehra, a Bollywood actor and film producer, was arrested by customs officers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
Customs officers secured Raama Mehra because he was caught carrying endangered animals protected by the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. For this, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
As reported by Antara, Head of the Soetta Airport Customs Office Gatot S Wibowo showed evidence of rare animals smuggled by the suspect. Among them are two birds of paradise (Cendrawasih) and an otter.
It is known that the three protected rare animals were carried by putting them in a suitcase. But it was finally revealed after officers suspected the briefcase carried by Raama and the X-ray image showed suspicious results.
“The maximum penalty is 10 years and a maximum fine of IDR 5 billion,” said Head of Soekarno-Hatta Customs Office, Gatot Sugeng Wibowo.
Based on initial information, Raama Mehra’s visit to Indonesia was for a vacation. Then, when he was about to return to India, an acquaintance who was also an Indian foreigner at Soekarno-Hatta Airport Terminal 2 entrusted him with a suitcase to give to someone when he arrived in India.
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Despite Raama Mehra’s claims of innocence, the Soekarno-Hatta Customs Team was not swayed.
“The suspect confessed that his friend entrusted him and that he would later be taken to India and handed over to someone in India. However, after we checked, they brought it, not entrusted,” said Gatot.
Their disbelief in his story led to a thorough investigation, revealing more about the true nature of the situation.
The smuggled endangered rare animals were:
- One Little Yellow Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea minor).
- One Papuan Bald Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus respublica).
- One Albino Small-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinereus).
