News / National
Harare pair earns 18 years for selling one pangolin
21 May 2015 at 10:49hrs | Views
Two Harare men - Noel Holman (55) and Tendai Musatyira (25) will spend the next nine years in jail after being convicted of possessing a pangolin valued at $5 000.
The pair has since filed an application for bail pending appeal at the High Court.
Illegal possession of a pangolin attracts a $5 000 fine and/or a nine-year mandatory prison term.
In Zimbabwe, a pangolin was placed on the specially protected list in 1975.
Until recently, pangolins were often handed over to President Robert Mugabe as gifts.
They are vulnerable to poachers, mainly because their scales are considered to have magical or healing powers.
The court heard that, acting on the information, the police detectives joined the Zimparks officials masquerading as buyers and proceeded to Robert Mugabe Square where they agreed to meet the pangolin sellers.
While at the scene, the Zimparks officials approached Holman and Musatyira who were holding a white sack containing the pangolin and as soon as the bag was opened for the buyers to view, the detectives reacted to a signal and approached the two men whom they arrested.
The pair failed to produce a permit which authorised them to possess the pangolin.
Provincial magistrate Milton Serima, in passing sentence against Holman and Musatyira, said the pair had failed to convince the court by providing special circumstances which would have helped them escape the nine-year jail terms.
The pair has since filed an application for bail pending appeal at the High Court.
Illegal possession of a pangolin attracts a $5 000 fine and/or a nine-year mandatory prison term.
In Zimbabwe, a pangolin was placed on the specially protected list in 1975.
Until recently, pangolins were often handed over to President Robert Mugabe as gifts.
They are vulnerable to poachers, mainly because their scales are considered to have magical or healing powers.
The court heard that, acting on the information, the police detectives joined the Zimparks officials masquerading as buyers and proceeded to Robert Mugabe Square where they agreed to meet the pangolin sellers.
While at the scene, the Zimparks officials approached Holman and Musatyira who were holding a white sack containing the pangolin and as soon as the bag was opened for the buyers to view, the detectives reacted to a signal and approached the two men whom they arrested.
The pair failed to produce a permit which authorised them to possess the pangolin.
Provincial magistrate Milton Serima, in passing sentence against Holman and Musatyira, said the pair had failed to convince the court by providing special circumstances which would have helped them escape the nine-year jail terms.
Source - Courts
