A Singaporean man who tried to smuggle $235,000 worth of exotic fish into Australia was a recognised aquatics "guru" and university lecturer with a PhD.
Kuok Weai Alex Chang has pleaded guilty to illegally importing dozens of rare fish in his luggage, some of which had died, after being stopped by customs officers at Adelaide Airport in February.
Chang's barrister says the aquatics consultant has been fascinated by fish since he was a boy and has worked on aquaculture projects in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
"I took some time to read his PhD," David Moen told the South Australian District Court during sentencing submissions on Friday.
"It is fairly convoluted but he is a bit of a guru when it comes to the Arowana fish.
"You are dealing with an intelligent man."
The court heard Chang, 44, was importing the fish for a business associate and stood to make $50,000 from the scheme.
Mr Moen said Chang had been financially burdened by medical costs relating to a tumour in his cheek that was removed but left him with nerve damage and a scar that made him socially self-conscious.
He said if Chang were to be given a jail sentence he would likely lose his job in Singapore.
But prosecutors said jail time was appropriate given Chang knew the risks of importing the fish, which were smuggled in inhumane conditions inside plastic bags.
The case will return to court in November.
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