News / Regional
One jailed nine years, two others face trial for illegal possession of ivory
16 Mar 2015 at 09:26hrs | Views
ONE man from Mkoba in Gweru was on Monday slapped with an effective nine years in jail while his two alleged accomplices were put on further remand for illegally possessing ivory.
Energy Mutenera Moyo (22) pleaded guilty to the charge before a nine year jail term was handed down on him while Bessy Makuvaza (38) OF Mkoba and her brother Washington Mvula (29) of Chief Nhemangwe denied the charges when they all appeared before Gokwe Resident magistrate Shepherd Mjanja.
The magistrate further remanded Makuvaza and Mvula out of custody for judgment after they were put in their defence where they all said they were not aware that the vehicle they were traveling in during their arrest had the ivory under its seat.
The court heard that on February 19 this year at 8.15pm the complainant Assistant Inspector Nathan Mbewe of the Border Control Unit in Kwekwe received a tip off that there were some people who were dealing in ivory illegal at Simchembwe area and were driving a Honda Fit vehicle number ACI 2352. He took a along with him a police a police team and they waylaid the suspects at Nhembudzia turn off but the three drove past the place before the police officer could mount a road block.
Police gave a chase to Gokwe town and they caught them at the 40,1km peg along Gokwe Siabuwa road. He police searched their vehicle and found an ivory weighing 6,49kg valued at $1 623,75 under the rear passenger seat.
When the police asked for an ivory dealing licence the three failed to produce the document leading to their arrest.
Energy Mutenera Moyo (22) pleaded guilty to the charge before a nine year jail term was handed down on him while Bessy Makuvaza (38) OF Mkoba and her brother Washington Mvula (29) of Chief Nhemangwe denied the charges when they all appeared before Gokwe Resident magistrate Shepherd Mjanja.
The magistrate further remanded Makuvaza and Mvula out of custody for judgment after they were put in their defence where they all said they were not aware that the vehicle they were traveling in during their arrest had the ivory under its seat.
The court heard that on February 19 this year at 8.15pm the complainant Assistant Inspector Nathan Mbewe of the Border Control Unit in Kwekwe received a tip off that there were some people who were dealing in ivory illegal at Simchembwe area and were driving a Honda Fit vehicle number ACI 2352. He took a along with him a police a police team and they waylaid the suspects at Nhembudzia turn off but the three drove past the place before the police officer could mount a road block.
Police gave a chase to Gokwe town and they caught them at the 40,1km peg along Gokwe Siabuwa road. He police searched their vehicle and found an ivory weighing 6,49kg valued at $1 623,75 under the rear passenger seat.
When the police asked for an ivory dealing licence the three failed to produce the document leading to their arrest.
Source - Byo24News
