Chinese Freediving Instructor Arrested in Indonesia for Poaching, Cooking Protected Sea Turtle
Thestandard · 2 SOURCES1 day ago5 MIN
Summary
A Chinese freediving instructor has been arrested in Indonesia after allegedly using a speargun to kill a protected hawksbill sea turtle in the waters of Raja Ampat, a renowned marine sanctuary. The suspect, identified as Wei Shang, was intercepted by immigration officers at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar on Monday as he attempted to leave the country. The incident sparked outrage after footage of the turtle being butchered and cooked was posted on social media, prompting local authorities and international diving organizations to take action.
Key Points
- The suspect, Wei Shang (商偉), is a certified AIDA International Instructor Trainer who allegedly killed a hawksbill sea turtle in the Piaynemo conservation area of Raja Ampat using a speargun
- He posted footage and photographs showing the turtle being hunted, butchered, and cooked on Instagram, which rapidly spread through Indonesian and international diving communities
- Immigration officials, acting on an urgent request from the Raja Ampat Regency Government, intercepted Wei at Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar on Monday before he could board his departure flight
- Authorities submitted a comprehensive evidence package including patrol reports, underwater photographs, videos of the cooked turtle, identification documents, accommodation records, and witness statements to law enforcement
- AIDA International has initiated a disciplinary review that could result in the revocation of Wei's professional diving credentials
Why It Matters
Raja Ampat sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the world's center of marine biodiversity, making this incident a serious blow to global conservation efforts . The case underscores how social media can mobilize rapid international accountability, as the viral spread of the footage triggered both Indonesian law enforcement and the suspect's professional certifying body to act . For Hong Kong divers and travelers, this serves as a stark reminder that wildlife protection laws in popular diving destinations carry severe penalties that can follow individuals across borders .
Raja Ampat sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the world's center of marine biodiversity, making this incident a serious blow to global conservation efforts . The case underscores how social media can mobilize rapid international accountability, as the viral spread of the footage triggered both Indonesian law enforcement and the suspect's professional certifying body to act . For Hong Kong divers and travelers, this serves as a stark reminder that wildlife protection laws in popular diving destinations carry severe penalties that can follow individuals across borders .