SINGAPORE, March 18 — A 24-year-old man has been charged in court with illegally importing more than a dozen tarantulas from the United Kingdom and keeping several of the eight-legged spiders in a Bedok North flat.

Herman Foo Yong He, who faces 39 charges under the Wild Animals and Birds Act, is also accused of keeping four geckos and a hedgehog in the flat.

He will plead guilty next week, a district court heard today.

Prosecutors from the National Parks Board are seeking a S$17,000 (RM51,498) fine.

If convicted of possessing an animal species listed in the Act, Foo could be fined up to S$50,000 for each species, jailed for up to two years, or both.

If convicted of illegally importing wild animals, he could be fined up to S$1,000 for each animal. Spiders allegedly imported by registered post Based on court documents, Foo allegedly imported the tarantulas by registered parcels on Aug 15, 2018.