Four Dar es Salaam residents were yesterday joined in a case in which
two people are charged with possessing 161 pieces of ivory worth Sh1.4
billion.
Mohamed Mbowedo, Exavery Sylvester, Frank Sadick and Issah Pillla were
charged at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court. They were not
allowed to enter plea for want of jurisdiction.
The four were joined in a case facing Robert Mwaipyana and Ramadhan
Mkenea who were arraigned in January.
The prosecution led by state attorney Ester Wilson alleged that the
accused committed the offence on different dates between January 1 and
December 21, last year, in Dar es Salaam.
The prosecution alleged that on the material dates, the suspects
jointly and wilfully organised and managed a criminal racket by
accepting, collecting and selling government trophies weighing 220.96
kilogrammes.
The State lawyers alleged that all the tusks were worth $690,000
(approximately Sh1.4 million). Ms Wilson further alleged on the second
count that, on the same dates at Temeke Miburani in Temeke District,
the accused were found in possession of the said pieces of elephant
tusks.
According to the prosecution, investigations into the case are still
underway. The State asked the court to set a date for another mention