Pair fined for keeping pests

A NOBLE Park brother and sister found to be in possession of pest animals were convicted and fined more than $9000 last week.
Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard that Quoc Cuong Tang, 32, and Hong Phoung Tang, 30, were keeping and selling the aggressive red-ear slider turtle, labelled a pest in Australia.
The Tangs pleaded guilty to numerous charges after a year-long invesigation by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
The pair was also charged and convicted of keeping noxious fish and the native eastern longnecked turtle without a licence.
The court fined Quoc Cuong Tang $7550 and ordered him to pay $523 in costs.
It fined sister Hong Phoung Tang $900 and ordered her to pay $180 in costs.