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Chinese arrested for possessing rhino horns
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A 62-year-old Chinese national appeared before the Harare Magistrates' Court facing charges of possessing rhino horns valued at US$360,000.
Harare magistrate Sheunesu Matova remanded Lin Wang in custody until March 11 for routine remand, advising him to approach the High Court for a bail application.
Prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi alleged that on September 12 last year, Lin attempted to export a purported sculpture from Zimbabwe to China via Emirates Airways at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
The court heard that Lin met agent Cuthbert Maoko near the airport's departure car park before proceeding to the National Handling Services (NHS) cargo area.
While at NHS, Lin allegedly handed over a 13-kilogram owl-hardened plastic sculpture to Maoko for shipment to China.
Chonzi further alleged that the sculpture was placed in a cardboard box and left with Maoko, who was processing the export documents.
Security officers at the airport physically examined the package and, upon scanning it with an AGS scanner, detected an inconsistent image, prompting further verification.
The sculpture was placed under the custody of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) for further examination.
Two months later, relevant stakeholders were summoned to witness the breaking of the sculpture. Upon opening it, officials discovered five pieces of rhino horn wrapped in newspaper and tied with transparent plastic, concealed inside the sculpture.
Maoko implicated Lin, alleging that he had been given the sculpture containing the hidden rhino horns.
Harare magistrate Sheunesu Matova remanded Lin Wang in custody until March 11 for routine remand, advising him to approach the High Court for a bail application.
Prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi alleged that on September 12 last year, Lin attempted to export a purported sculpture from Zimbabwe to China via Emirates Airways at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
The court heard that Lin met agent Cuthbert Maoko near the airport's departure car park before proceeding to the National Handling Services (NHS) cargo area.
While at NHS, Lin allegedly handed over a 13-kilogram owl-hardened plastic sculpture to Maoko for shipment to China.
Security officers at the airport physically examined the package and, upon scanning it with an AGS scanner, detected an inconsistent image, prompting further verification.
The sculpture was placed under the custody of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) for further examination.
Two months later, relevant stakeholders were summoned to witness the breaking of the sculpture. Upon opening it, officials discovered five pieces of rhino horn wrapped in newspaper and tied with transparent plastic, concealed inside the sculpture.
Maoko implicated Lin, alleging that he had been given the sculpture containing the hidden rhino horns.
Source - newsday
