News / Regional
Cops arrested for keeping a live pangolin
01 Nov 2015 at 09:12hrs | Views
TWO Gokwe police officers have been arrested together with other two accomplices after they were found in possession of a live pangolin which they were trying to sell to a local businessman.
The two police officers, Tinashe Mushaikwa (29) who is based at ZRP Gokwe Central and Albert Gwere (23) from ZRP Nembudziya Post and their accomplices Gordon Chitima (49) of Nemanga Village under Chief Chireya and James Matsungo (42) from Chiweshe were last week arraigned before Gokwe Magistrate Mr Collen Chiruma for possessing a specially protected animal without a permit.
Chitima and Matsungo pleaded guilty to the charge and were sentenced to nine years each in jail while Mushaikwa and Gwere pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody to Tuesday. For the State, Mr Michael Mhene said sometime in October this year on a date unknown to the prosecutor, the four connived and hunted a pangolin which was strolling in Chemagora area.
Mr Mhene said the four agreed that Chitima and Matsungo should take care of the pangolin at Chitima's homestead in Chemagora while the two police officers look for a buyer in Gokwe Town. On 25 October police got a tip-off to the effect that the four were selling a live pangolin.
Mr Mhene told the court that the police Mineral and Border Control Unit together with members of ZimParks and the Zimbabwe National Army made a follow up. A Detective Kaseke posed as a pangolin buyer and communicated with Gwere who told him to meet him at Sunset Business Centre in Gokwe.
Det Kaseke hired a car and proceeded to Sunset where he met the two police officers who then led him to Chitima's homestead in Chemagora about 40km from Gokwe. On arrival, Det Kaseke signalled his colleagues after the four failed to produce a permit of keeping a specially protected animal. The four were subsequently arrested.
The two police officers, Tinashe Mushaikwa (29) who is based at ZRP Gokwe Central and Albert Gwere (23) from ZRP Nembudziya Post and their accomplices Gordon Chitima (49) of Nemanga Village under Chief Chireya and James Matsungo (42) from Chiweshe were last week arraigned before Gokwe Magistrate Mr Collen Chiruma for possessing a specially protected animal without a permit.
Chitima and Matsungo pleaded guilty to the charge and were sentenced to nine years each in jail while Mushaikwa and Gwere pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody to Tuesday. For the State, Mr Michael Mhene said sometime in October this year on a date unknown to the prosecutor, the four connived and hunted a pangolin which was strolling in Chemagora area.
Mr Mhene told the court that the police Mineral and Border Control Unit together with members of ZimParks and the Zimbabwe National Army made a follow up. A Detective Kaseke posed as a pangolin buyer and communicated with Gwere who told him to meet him at Sunset Business Centre in Gokwe.
Det Kaseke hired a car and proceeded to Sunset where he met the two police officers who then led him to Chitima's homestead in Chemagora about 40km from Gokwe. On arrival, Det Kaseke signalled his colleagues after the four failed to produce a permit of keeping a specially protected animal. The four were subsequently arrested.
Source - sundaynews
