WILDLEX

On 23/05/2011, the OC – CID of Mugumu police station received information from two intelligence officers of Tanzania National Parks stationed at Serengeti National Park, that there were persons selling elephant tusks to a person putting up a hotel in Mugumu Township.

The appellant appealed against both conviction and sentence passed by the District Court of Karatu in economic case No. 4 of 2014. It was alleged during trial that on 30th January, 2013 at Rhotia village within Karatu District the accused was found in unlawful possession of one elephant tusk weighing 12.4 kg valued at Tshs.

The accused person on 30th January 2013 at Rhotia village within Karatu District was found in unlawful possession of one elephant tusk weighing 12.4 kg the property of Tanzania government. On the material day, the accused was stopped by Ngorongoro Park Rangers on suspicion that he was carrying government trophies.

The Anti-Poaching Unit received information from their informer that there is a business if elephants tusk about to happen in Arusha-Njiro area. Posing as buyers, the Unit contacted the seller about the possibility of buying the tusks. The sellers fell into a trap and showed the unit the tusks.

The appellant was appealing against the decision of the High Court which ruled that the offence which the respondents were charged with was not an economic crime to be tried before the High Court and thus ordered that the matter to be remitted back to the trial court for necessary amendments of the charge and proceed with trial accordingly.

The appellant was found in the district of Songea to be in possession of 14 elephant tusks without a valid license following a hint provided by an informer that the appellant was going to transport the tusks. He was arrested and confessed to the charges. He was then tried and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

The appellants were found to be in unlawful possession of elephant tusks found in the second appellant’s house and fresh and dried meat found in the first appellant’s house alleged to have been obtained from Katavi National Park. The appellants were found to be in possession of elephant meat and tusks without a valid licence.

The appellant was found in possession of 71 pieces of elephant tusks and stood trial before the district court of Shinyanga as presided over by a Resident Magistrate. The appellant appealed to the High Court but the appeal was dismissed.

The appellant was convicted by the District Court of Monduli at Monduli in absentia for unlawful possession of government trophy. He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment for twenty (20) years.

On the 7th day of October 2010 in Mugumu, upon information given by a secret informant the accused and one person Mosenye Barisere are suspected to be in possession of government trophies.