after being found guilty on both charges, talum was sentenced to three years and two months in prison for possession of an illegal weapon, and seven months for violating the wildlife conservation act. part of the sentences were to run concurrently, so the total sentence was three years and six months. he was also fined nt$70,000. community groups criticised the harshness of the sentence, and talum was defended by a seven-person legal team from the taitung legal aid foundation, who argued that the controlling guns, ammunition and knives act did not limit aboriginal hunters to "home-made" weapons.