Czech scientists convicted

NEW DELHI: In a rare case, a court has found two Czech entomologists guilty of collecting insects like butterflies without permission and exploiting the catch commercially.

A Darjeeling court will decide on Wednesday the length of sentence that Czech scientists Petr Svacha and Emil Kucera deserve for violating country’s Wild Life Protection Act.

Svacha, 51, and Kucera, 52, could face three to seven years in prison. The scientists, arrested by Darjeeling district forest officials on June 22 this year, could also be granted pardon as the trial court had asked them file an apology before Wednesday.

Forest officials alleged the scientists were found possessing about 200 specimens of rare insects without the required authorisation from the National Biodiversity Authority and the state chief wildlife warden.

Both entomologists have been charged with violation of Section 9 and 27 along with Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, says a lawyer.

“For researching and collecting insect specimens, permits are required from the NBA. Each permit costs up to Rs10,000 making it difficult for individual taxonomists to carry out field work,” the lawyer said.