Kuala Lumpur: Twenty seven men, mostly
senior citizens, have been fined by a local court for abusing
two magpies by allowing the birds to fight in a cage.
The local magpies, better known as songbirds, have often
been featured in "singing contests".
The men, aged between 27 and 80, pleaded guilty in a
packed courtroom and were fined 130 ringit (1400 rupees) each
or three months` jail in default.
They admitted to having been around a table where the
cage was placed to commit the offence, at the bird-lovers`
recreational club earlier this month. It is believed that
betting had taken place, local news reports said today.
The men pleaded guilty to the charge after court
interpreters explained to them in Cantonese.
Some of them nodded while others exchanged stories and
broke into laughter in the dock as the facts of the case were
read to them.
Deputy public prosecutor said the court should give
priority to the law which was designed to protect the birds
from any form of suffering.
Magistrate Aina Azahra Arifin ticked off the group and
warned the men not to repeat the offence.
The men paid their fines for the offence, the reports
said.
PTI
