A Kilgoris court has sentenced a man who was found with 15kgs of ivory worth Sh3 million to one year in prison.
Matura Masubende Tegetege appeared before Kilgoris Acting Senior Resident Magistrate Amos Mokoros.
He was found guilty of possessing five pieces of ivory on June 27, 2013 at Nyamaranya village at Kehancha within Migori County.
Tegetege was also accused of dealing in game trophies contrary to the laws of Kenya and failing to make a report on the existence of ivory. The accused denied all the three charges claiming that he had been framed by his enemies.
Inspector Thomas Simbiri who led the prosecution told the court that Tegetege was arrested by Kenya Wildlife Service rangers who had received a tip off that he and his accomplices were dealing in ivory.
They went there and pretended to be buyers.
“A Kenya Wildlife Service ranger went to the accused person’s house and after being shown the five pieces of ivory in a sack he excused himself so that he could go and get money to buy them after which he went and got reinforcement from his colleagues who went to the house,” said Inspector Simbiri.