WILDLEX

The accused person was arrested with dik-dik on 09.05.2005. Prosecution alleged that on the material day the accused was found in unlawful possession of the dik-dik without permit from the authorized authorities.

On 24.02.2006 at Kisese village within Babati District, Manyara region, the accused was found unlawful possessing impala carcass, the property of the Government of Tanzania. The accused person was found guilty and was therefore convicted.

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.

At the heart of this matter were the customary rights to marine resources. The appellants were tried at the Magistrate court and later appealed to the High Court in Mthatha. The Hight Court, however, held that their conduct was unlawful because they had not applied for an exemption as contemplated in the MLRA, granting them a permit to fish.

The court held that the appellants were protecting the lives of the cubs and as well as their legal interest in the survical of the cubs as the owners of the very expensive animals.

The appellant was found to have been complicit in the transaction where a fake rhino horn was sold in a police trap for R350 000. He was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment. The appellant unsuccessfully appealed to the Free State High Court against his conviction and sentence.