SINGAPORE - A Singaporean man has been jailed for illegally importing three red-whiskered bulbul birds into Singapore and for animal cruelty.

Muhammad Farhan Abdullah, 29, was sentenced on Wednesday (Oct 26) to three months' jail for importing the birds and three months for subjecting the birds to unnecessary suffering or pain, the authorities said.

Both sentences will run concurrently, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a joint press release on Thursday.

The red-whiskered bulbuls, popular cage birds, were found in three small boxes inside a Singapore-registered car on June 6.

They were tucked beneath the carpet of the front passenger seat, and under the rear passenger seats.

The birds, which were imported without an AVA permit, have been successfully rehomed to Jurong Bird Park.

As part of the investigation, the birds were tested and found to be free from bird flu.

"Animals that are smuggled into Singapore are of unknown health status and may introduce exotic diseases, into the country," the authorities said.

Importing animals or live birds without an AVA permit is illegal and carries a maximum penalty of $10,000 and/or jail of up to one year.