WILDLEX

The appellants were jointly arraigned in the District Court of Nachingwea at Nachingwea on a charge of unlawful possession of government trophies. Both were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for twenty (20) years. Aggrieved with the decision, they both preferred appeals to the High Court of Tanzania at Mtwara.

The appellants were arrested following information that they were in possession of buffalo meat. The appellants disputed any knowledge about the meat affirming they had no license for hunting. They were found in the house where the meat was because they took rest for the night.

The appellant one Mauridi Ganame was on 17/04/1997 convicted by Lindi District Court on a charge of unlawful possession of government trophies. He was subsequently sentenced to twenty five (25) years imprisonment. While the court sentenced the appellant was not in court.

The appellant Ausi Hassani Nampali was on 24th October, 2001 convicted by the Lindi District Court on two counts of unlawful possession of government trophy contrary to section 67(1) and (c) (d) (iii) and (2A) of the Wildlife Conservation Act No. 12 of 1974 as amended by Act No.

The appellant was found in possession of a weighing scale while drying meat identified by the witnesses using their experience to be that of a zebra. There was no skin or head to support such claim.

The appellant Ahmad Mshamu was on 13/06/2002 convicted by Newala District Court on a charge of four counts. Among them, two were on unlawful possession of fire arms and other two counts were on unlawful possession of government trophies contrary to the law. He appealed the decision.

From December 2016 to September 2017, Sha W. contacted Li, and purchased 7 wildlife products including 3 piece of ivory products (a total of 114.49 grams and a value of RMB 4,770.45 yuan) from Li. Five of them were sold in the Wenjia booth at the "Jiaomen Jade Stone" in Zhangjiakou operated by Yaru L.

In early September 2016, the defendant Xiao knew that the wild birds illegally hunted by others, and he still purchased 1365 yellow-browed buntings. Later he raised the purchased wild birds in his yard to sell for profit.

Since 2010, Xinbao W. had illegally purchased, processed and sold ivory products for profit. After the incident, the public security organ seized a large amount of ivory products, ivory granules, etc. totaling 3.4 kg in Xinbao W.'s home.

From June 2014 to April 22, 2015, Yang Y. successively hired Jipeng Z. to process and make ivory jewellery in a bungalow. Yang Y. published pictures of ivory products by WeChat, contacted buyers for sales. Later, 10.945 kilograms of ivory products were seized in the studio, which were valued at RMB 456,045.