Czech nationals sentenced

SILIGURI: Renowed international entomologist Petr Svacha, a Czech national, was on Wednesday fined Rs 20,000 while his assistant was sentenced to three years simple imprisonment by a court here for illegally collecting butterflies, moths and beetles from Darjeeling.
    
Chief Judicial Magistrate of Darjeeling U K Nandy, who had on Monday found Svacha and his assistant Emil Kucera guilty under the Wildlife Act and the Biodiversity Act, pronounced the punishment.
    
Kucera, who was also slapped with a fine of Rs 5,000 under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act and Rs 50,000 under section 55 of the Biodiversity Act has been given bail and a month's time to appeal in a higher court.
    
The magistrate said Svacha was "a victim of circumstance. Considering his antecedents and reputation, he was being only being fined".
    
Defence lawyer Tarang Pandit said Kucera would appeal in the district session's court against the sentence.     

The two were arrested in Darjeeling on June 22.