Sentencing delayed in Baby Monkey case

[Guest guest]

Sentencing in Case No. 02-CR-312 [united States versus Labs of Virginia,

Inc., et al] has been postponed until 15 December 2004.

 

If you haven't done so already, please act on the alert that follows.

Letters from Asia will surely carry weight. Thank you, and please copy to

other Asian lists. Shirley

 

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" A US importing company and three of its officers pled guilty in August 2004 to

violating federal law by importing over a thousand crab-eating macaques,

including many pregnant and baby monkeys, in 1997. The offenders will be

sentenced on November 16­-but a plea agreement may result in charges being

dropped. We need you to write to the judge to ask for justice for the baby

monkeys, some 3-5 weeks old, who were transported from Indonesia, destined

to form part

of a breeding colony for research animals in South Carolina, and for older

monkeys shipped on documents falsely stating that they were born in

captivity in Indonesia.

 

Over seven years ago IPPL was provided with an eye-witness account

of dozens of baby monkeys pathetically packed in crates at Chicago’s O’Hare

Airport. The animals had been shipped via Air France by the Indonesian

animal dealer Agus Darmawan to the firm LABS of Virginia, which breeds

monkeys for research in Yemassee, South Carolina.

 

Shipment of infant animals violates US law. IPPL obtained documents showing

that not only baby monkeys were included in the April and May 1997

shipments, but that wild-caught adult monkeys had been shipped on fraudulent

“captive-born” documents. In the following years, many animal lovers

contacted government officials demanding “Justice for the baby monkeys!”

 

On 3 April 2002, the company LABS of Virginia itself, along with three

company officers, were indicted. The individuals were David Taub (president

of LABS at the time of the shipments), Charles Stern (Chairman of the Board

of LABS), and LABS Board member Curtis Henley. LABS and Taub were each

charged with eight felonies and four misdemeanors (12 counts each) and faced

steep fines and long prison terms, with Henley and Curtis each facing one

charge.

 

There were numerous references in the “Air France Baby Monkeys” court

documents about " baksheesh " paid to Indonesian officials to procure export

permits stating that monkeys as old as 15-16 years were “born” at a breeding

colony that had existed for less than ten years.

 

The Chicago Tribune reported in August that, " According to a plea agreement

between the defendant and the U.S. attorney’s office entered today before

U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo, the company faces two years of

probation, a fine of $500,000 and forfeiture totaling $64,675.... Also as

part of the agreement, the government at sentencing is to dismiss charges

against three former officers of LABS of Virginia. The company currently is

under new management, authorities said.”

 

Take Action: Ask for Justice for the Baby Monkeys!

 

Please write and ask US District Judge Ruben Castillo to review carefully

Case No. 02-CR-312 (United States versus LABS Va. Inc.

et al.) and to consider whether the government is justified in dropping the

charges against the individual defendants who participated in the illegal

monkey shipments. Respectful letters can be mailed to:

 

The Honorable Ruben Castillo, US District Judge

US District Court, Northern District of Illinois

Federal Building

219 South Dearborn Street, Fifth Floor

Chicago, IL 60604

USA