Fw: [AR-News] GUAM: 2 plead not guily in shark-fin case

July 27, 2004

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" Barry Kent MacKay " <mimus

<Ar-News (AT) googl (DOT) com>

Tuesday, July 27, 2004 12:33 PM

[AR-News] GUAM: 2 plead not guily in shark-fin case

2 men plead not guilty in shark-fin case

By Theresa Merto

July 27, 2004

Pacific Daily News

Two men accused of allegedly attempting to export shark fins pleaded not

guilty yesterday in the U.S. District Court of Guam and are scheduled to go

to trial in September.

Conchito M. Cagas Jr. and Cresento P. Bacaling were indicted Thursday for

allegedly attempting to export shark fins on or about July 13. An

arraignment hearing for the defendants took place yesterday and a trial date

was set for 9 a.m. Sept. 21.

The Shark Finning Prohibition Act prohibits what is commonly known as

" shark-finning, " where people catch sharks, cut off their fins and throw the

animal back into the ocean to die. The fins are considered a delicacy and

are sold for high prices to restaurants, the U.S. Attorney's Office has

said.

The District Court issued a summons for Cagas and Bacaling, who currently

are being detained. The men each face a maximum prison sentence of five

years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, according to the U.S.

Attorney's Office.

Karon V. Johnson, assistant U.S. attorney, is handling the case and is being

assisted by Special Agent Al Samuels, National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration Fisheries, the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency-Maritime

Interdiction Task Force, and the Guam Port Authority Police.

______-

Barry Kent MacKay

Canadian Representative

Animal Protection Institute

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