<p>An Indonesian court has jailed a dog meat trader in a landmark case hailed by animal rights activists pushing for a ban on the "brutal" practice.</p>.<p>A court near Indonesia's cultural capital Yogyakarta on Monday sentenced the suspect to 10 months in jail and slapped him with a 150 million rupiah ($10,000) fine.</p>.<p>The man, 48, was charged under animal cruelty laws for transporting some 78 canines stuffed inside gunny sacks placed on the back of his pickup truck.</p>.<p>Police in May intercepted the vehicle and later discovered that 10 dogs had died due to lack of food and water, while another six later passed away, a court official said.</p>.<p>"This is the first-ever prosecution for such a case," Edy Sameaputty, spokesman for Kulon Progo district court, told <em>AFP</em> on Thursday.</p>.<p>The animals were bound for Solo city on Java island, where they were expected to be sold for their meat.</p>.<p>Dog Meat Free Indonesia, which has campaigned for years to end the widespread trade, welcomed this week's ruling.</p>.<p>"The verdict sends a strong message to traders who knowingly operate illegally that this trade will not be tolerated," it said in a statement.</p>.<p>While dogs are widely viewed as unclean and are rarely kept as pets in Indonesia their meat remains a delicacy among some groups.</p>.<p>A cheap source of protein, dog meat is also still eaten in several other Asian countries.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here:</strong></p>
<p>An Indonesian court has jailed a dog meat trader in a landmark case hailed by animal rights activists pushing for a ban on the "brutal" practice.</p>.<p>A court near Indonesia's cultural capital Yogyakarta on Monday sentenced the suspect to 10 months in jail and slapped him with a 150 million rupiah ($10,000) fine.</p>.<p>The man, 48, was charged under animal cruelty laws for transporting some 78 canines stuffed inside gunny sacks placed on the back of his pickup truck.</p>.<p>Police in May intercepted the vehicle and later discovered that 10 dogs had died due to lack of food and water, while another six later passed away, a court official said.</p>.<p>"This is the first-ever prosecution for such a case," Edy Sameaputty, spokesman for Kulon Progo district court, told <em>AFP</em> on Thursday.</p>.<p>The animals were bound for Solo city on Java island, where they were expected to be sold for their meat.</p>.<p>Dog Meat Free Indonesia, which has campaigned for years to end the widespread trade, welcomed this week's ruling.</p>.<p>"The verdict sends a strong message to traders who knowingly operate illegally that this trade will not be tolerated," it said in a statement.</p>.<p>While dogs are widely viewed as unclean and are rarely kept as pets in Indonesia their meat remains a delicacy among some groups.</p>.<p>A cheap source of protein, dog meat is also still eaten in several other Asian countries.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here:</strong></p>