Svacha (left) and Kucera outside the CJM’s court in Darjeeling on Monday. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, Aug 25: The court of the chief judicial magistrate today started the trial of Czech scientist Petr Svacha and his associate Emil Kucera who have been accused of illegally collecting insects from inside the Singalila National Park.

The CJM, U.K Nandi, examined two witnesses — Bharat Kumar Thami, a forest guard who was present when the Czechs were arrested from a hotel at Srikhola, about 90km from Darjeeling, on June 22, and Tshering Sherpa, the owner of the lodge.

Thami said on that day the forest team had reached the lodge around 3.30pm and asked the owner about the two foreigners. “Two of my colleagues stayed outside while I along with burrababu (forest ranger Arbinden Lepcha, who led the team) went to one of the rooms (No. 3),” he added.

Thami said the forest officials had asked for documents after spotting some insects packed in “boxes”. When Svacha, the occupant of the room, failed to show any papers, they went to Room 4 where Kucera was staying.

“All their equipment, like axes and hacksaws, were then brought to Kucera’s room where two seizure lists were prepared and I signed on them,” said Thami.

During cross-examination, one of the defence lawyers, Taranga Pandit, wanted to know if Thami had signed on all the pages of the seizure list. Thami said he had signed only on the cover pages of the two seizure lists relating to Svacha and Kucera.

Pandit asked Sherpa if his lodge was within the national park. “The hotel is located outside the national park,” the owner told the court.

Some more witnesses are expected to be examined by the court tomorrow, including Arbinden Lepcha and assistant divisional forest officer Utpal Kumar Nag. “The charges will be framed on August 27,” said Pandit.

Forest officials have booked the Czechs under Sections 9, 27, 29, 35 (6), 39, 49 (B), 56 and 57 of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which largely pertain to collecting wildlife items without permission. The duo can be punished under Section 51 of the act. If found guilty, they can be imprisoned for not less than three years along with a fine.

The court will decide whether the charges stand or not after examining the witnesses. Following that, all witnesses can be cross-examined by the defence lawyers.

Svacha today said he and Kucera were “trying hard to follow the proceedings of the court”. “It is difficult because of the language problem.”

While Svacha can speak English, Kucera does not understand it. Moreover, both Thami and Sherpa deposed before the court in Nepali and Hindi, languages that the Czech duo do not follow.