Man charged with illegal possession of Pangolin scales and ivory

Mar 26, 2019

A person who commits the offences is liable on conviction to five years imprisonment or a fine equal to 50 percent of the dutiable value of goods involved, or both.

KAMPALA- A thirty six year-old man has been remanded to Luzira over unlawful possession of protected species contrary to sections 30 and 75 (b) of the Uganda Wild Life Act cap, 200.

Anesio Kayanja Turyahikayo, a business man and a resident of Kibimba ‘A' village, Lulehe Sub County in Mitoma district was charged on Friday last week at Buganda Road Court, Kampala.

A person who commits the offences is liable on conviction to five years imprisonment or a fine equal to 50 percent of the dutiable value of goods involved, or both.

Turyahikayo appeared before Grade One Magistrate, Gladys Kamasanyu for plea and denied the charges.

The accused person was arrested by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) officials following a tip-off by one of their undercover officials whom preferred to be anonymous.

Prosecution contended that the accused was allegedly found with 47.96kgs of pangolin scales approximately valued at over sh444m at Kisenyi in Kampala district.

The UWA prosecutor, Chadiha Keffa Ndeke asserts that the accused on March 4, 2019 at Queens Guest House in Kibwa zone was found in possession of prohibited goods (pieces of ivory and Pangolin) which he knew or ought to have known, to be prohibited goods.

"Your honour, the case before court is one that involved massive killing of wildlife species.

Prosecution will lead evidence to this court and we have three witnesses to testify and it's your duty to ensure that justice is done to all Uganda's wildlife species." Ndeke told court.

However, the accused told court that he was not yet to proceed with hearing of the case because he didn't know its whereabouts and he didn't know why he was in court.

"Your worship, I beg to be released and given bail for I was wrongly brought here and falsely accused, I don't even know the pangolin their talking about and I have never seen such an animal in my residence area."  Turyahikayo informed court.

He added that he was just framed.

"I hereby adjourn this case to March 28, 2019; it's when I will hear your bail application and further hearing of the matter." Kamasanyu ruled.

 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});