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Canberra student who sold primate skull to Pirates of the Caribbean fined $5,500

A Canberra student who sold a primate skull to the makers of Pirates of the Caribbean movie has been fined $5,500 for illegally possessing endangered species specimens.

Brent Philip Counsell, 28, pleaded guilty to 14 charges, which also included illegally importing specimens.

The ACT Magistrates Court heard he ran an online business trading in the specimens, some of which he bought from an Indonesian contact, and others from online trading site eBay.

The court heard one primate skull was sold to the makers of American fantasy swashbuckler franchise Pirates of the Caribbean.

The ABC is not suggesting the filmmakers were aware the specimens were obtained illegally.

In a statement sent to the ABC, the federal Environment and Energy Department said its officers seized up to 100 specimens from the Deakin home in June 2016.

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