KL Court Allows RM10,000 Bail For Singer Who Was Caught Keeping Sun Bear Cub In Her Condo

While Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Munirah Zainal Abidin offered no bail to the accused, saying it was a serious offence, Zarith's lawyer Mohd Haziq Pillay Abdullah asked for reasonable bail as his client has to support her parents.

"Her father has also just undergone surgery to remove a tumour. Even the court can impose other conditions but not excessive bail because she is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court," counsel Abdullah argued in mitigation.

Judge Manira Mohd Nor then set bail at RM10,000 for two charges with one surety.

Zarith, who is from Johor, was charged in the Magistrates Court with two charges of keeping a sun bear cub in her condominium unit without a permit.

The two charges are harbouring a sun bear cub without a special permit under Section 69(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and sheltering the bear cub in an unsuitable and non-conducive environment under Section 86(1)(c) of the same Act.

If convicted under Section 69(1) of the Act, the singer faces a maximum fine of RM200,000 or 10 years in jail, or both. And under Section 86(1)(c) of the Act, she could be jailed up to one year or a fine between RM5,000 and RM50,000, or both.

Judge Manira Mohd Nor said the case will be up for mention on 19 July.

She was also ordered to surrender her passport to the court until the case is over.