SA court told Singaporean “fish guru” Kuok Weai Alex Chang has lost face over $235,000 exotic species smuggling case
A RESPECTED Singaporean aquaculture guru has “lost face” in his homeland by smuggling exotic fish worth $235,000 into Australia inside his luggage, a court has heard.
A RESPECTED Singaporean aquaculture guru has “lost face” in his homeland by smuggling exotic fish worth $235,000 into Australia inside his luggage, a court has heard.
In the District Court on Friday, counsel for Kuok Weai Alex Chang conceded their client stood to make $50,000 for his role in the illegal importation of the protected fish.
David Moen, for Chang, asked his client be spared jail and allowed to return to Singapore and rebuild both his family and his career redeveloping water systems for impoverished villages.
“This offending represents a breach of trust and a loss of respect for him,” he said.
“There has been a significant impact due to social media, and this case has been a topic in various newspapers and media sources in Singapore.
“He has lost face, he has been left out for himself in the Singaporean community.”
Chang was originally charged with one count of importing in breach of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife, Fauna and Fauna, or CITES.
He was arrested at Adelaide Airport in February by Australian Customs and Border Protection Services officers.
Prosecutors alleged 26 of the fish seized from Chang’s luggage were believed to be from species listed under CITES.
Chang subsequently pleaded guilty to importing a disease or pest to obtain a commercial advantage.
On Friday, Mr Moen told the court Chang had brought the fish into Australia for another man, with whom he hoped to start a business, in exchange for $50,000.
However, he said Chang “never saw a cent” of that money and had volunteered to give evidence against his alleged co-accused at that man’s trial.
Mr Moen said the offending arose from Chang’s personal and professional history.
“He is a very intelligent man, with degrees in biotechnology from universities in both Queensland and Singapore,” he said.
“He works at a research and development centre for aquaculture studies (in Singapore) and plays an indispensable role in waste water management for villages in Malaysia and Thailand.
“This man is also a bit of a guru when it comes to fish ... his passion for fish started when he was a very young man and he became involved through his father.”
Mr Moen said the death of Chang’s father, the needs of his ailing mother and providing for his wife and son all contributed to his low emotional state.
“This has had a devastating effect upon him, from the misconceived notion that he wanted to get money for his family,” he said.
“Of the $50,000 he was to receive, $10,000 was for the fish and $40,000 was to inject into the business.”
Judge Steven Millsteed remanded Chang on continuing bail for sentencing in November.