WA: Japanese man could face jail tomorrow over lizard smuggling

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2006
WA: Japanese man could face jail tomorrow over lizard smuggling

A Japanese tourist could be jailed tomorrow if he pleads guilty to charges of trying
to smuggle six native lizards out of Australia.

22-year-old MITSUHIRO YOKOTA appeared on a video link in Perth Magistrates Court today
.. charged with six counts of trying to smuggle shingleback lizards .. known locally as
bobtails or sleepy lizards.

He's also charged with two additional counts of unlawfully possessing protected fauna.

When told YOKOTA intended to plead guilty .. magistrate ROBERT BLACK remanded the matter
until tomorrow so YOKOTA could be brought into the courtroom for sentencing.

YOKOTA was arrested after he checked in at Perth international airport for a Singapore-bound
flight last month.

AAP RTV lk/jv/bart

KEYWORD: YOKOTA (PERTH)

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