Sukry Wahab and Hafiszan Naser, both 29, reversed their initial guilty plea made last month after the charges were read to them before judge Fuad Othman today.

The charges were made under Section 68(1)(b) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, which carries a fine of not more than RM100,000 and jail of not more than three years, upon conviction.

The first charge involves the possession of 49 units of square-lipped rhinoceros (ceratotherium simum) horns, while the second charge involves one unit of the black rhinoceros (diceros bicornis) horn.

The two accused were discovered with the items in a Mitsubishi Fuso vehicle bearing the plate number WWW 2879, parked by the roadside near Bulatan Masjid KLIA at around 9.15pm on Sept 9, 2021.

Deputy public prosecutor from the wildlife and national parks department Wan Nur Muhammad Ehsan prosecuted, while the accused were represented by Aqeeb Lizalman.

Following the change of plea, the court fixed Sept 11, 12, and 25 for a trial. A total of seven witnesses are expected to testify.