News / National
We are still backward and not well versed with the law, man tells magistrate
23 Nov 2017 at 08:48hrs | Views
A 35-year-old Doma man pulled a shocker after he told Guruve resident magistrate Shingirai Mutiro that he did not know that possessing an elephant tusk and an unlicensed riffle is a crime.
Mapfuwahungwa Musiriranhamo (35) from Mbire district was jailed nine years on Tuesday for possessing an elephant tusk.
State prosecutor Ms Spiwe Makarichi told the court that on 11 November 2017 a syndicate of game rangers and police details approached the accused and found him in position of elephant tusk and an AK 47 riffle with live ammunitions .
During mitigation Musiriranhamo told the court that he is unlearned and did not know that possessing elephant tusks and an unlicensed riffles is a crime.
"Your worship l am from the Doma tribe, please pardon me we are still backward and not well versed with the law.
"I picked this riffle from a baobab tree and the tusks in the bush," he said.
The prosecutor dismissed his submissions saying ignorance has no defense.
The riffle has since been forfeited to the state.
Mapfuwahungwa Musiriranhamo (35) from Mbire district was jailed nine years on Tuesday for possessing an elephant tusk.
State prosecutor Ms Spiwe Makarichi told the court that on 11 November 2017 a syndicate of game rangers and police details approached the accused and found him in position of elephant tusk and an AK 47 riffle with live ammunitions .
During mitigation Musiriranhamo told the court that he is unlearned and did not know that possessing elephant tusks and an unlicensed riffles is a crime.
"I picked this riffle from a baobab tree and the tusks in the bush," he said.
The prosecutor dismissed his submissions saying ignorance has no defense.
The riffle has since been forfeited to the state.
Source - Byo24News
