Herders charged with illegal possession of elephant tusks

Mombasa, Wednesday, June 14, 2023

KNA by Fatuma Said 

A Mombasa Court has imposed stringent bond terms for two suspected ivory dealers allegedly found with Sh2 million worth elephant tusks by Kenya Wildlife Service detectives.

Mombasa Chief Magistrate Ms. Martha Mutuku declined to remand the two Samuel Nason Mosima and Bokisa Maleto but imposed hefty bond terms of mSh1million each, with two personal sureties and an alternative Sh1million cash bail.

The prosecution through Principal Prosecuting Counsel Alex Gituma had opposed their release after the investigation officer stated that the two could abscond trial.

The accused were also said to have no place of abode with the investigator stating they are herders, who continuously migrate with their animals in search of pasture and water.

However, Mutuku ruled that the charges facing them are bailable but released them on stringent terms to ensure they attend trial.

The two men were charged with dealing in wildlife trophies of an endangered species worth Sh2 million without a permit contrary to Section 92(2) of the Wildlife Conservation Act.

Mosima and Maleto were allegedly jointly found dealing in two (2) pieces of elephant tusk weighing 6Kg concealed in a brownish safari bag without a permit or other lawful exemption.

The two allegedly committed the crime on 13 June 2023 at around 0900hrs, at Mwembe Tayari area within Mombasa County.

The case has been fixed for pre-trial on 22 June 2023.

Courtesy ; K. N. A