SINGAPORE - A Singaporean man was charged in court on Wednesday (Sept 20) over the release of three venomous motoro stingrays into Lower Seletar Reservoir.

Larry Tan Chin Guan, now 48, is accused of committing the offence between 3pm and 4pm on June 2.

This is believed to be the first case involving the release of stingrays into the wild.

Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority prosecutor Yap Teck Chuan told the court that Tan will be charged next week with a related offence involving Singapore's national water agency, PUB.

However, Mr Yap added that he is not sure about the details of this PUB charge.

According to an earlier report in The Straits Times, freshwater motoro stingrays are non-native species with venomous stings.

They are native to South America and can grow to the size of dinner plates.

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The report stated that they were found lurking in the Upper Seletar Reservoir.

These fish, likely to have been released into the reservoir by fish hobbyists, can deliver venomous stings that can cause extreme pain, and even death.

Tan, who was unrepresented, told the court that he intends to plead guilty to his offence.

He will be back in court on Sept 26.

First-time offenders convicted of abandoning animals can be jailed for up to a year and fined up to $10,000.

Repeat offenders can be jailed for up to two years and fined up to $20,000.