Four in trouble over 1.4bn/- elephant tusks

FAUSTINE KAPAMA

FOUR people appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday charged with leading organised crimes, including dealing in elephant tusks, which are government trophies, valued at over 1.4bn/-.

The accused are Mohamed Bakari Mboweto, alias Ustadh, Exavery Augustino Sylvester, Frank Raymond Sadick and Issah Alfred Pilla. Before Senior Resident Magistrate Emilius Mchauru, the accused persons denied the charges.

They were remanded until April 18, when they will be joined with two other accused persons, Robert Issa Mwaipyana and Ramadhani Ayoub Mnekea, who were arraigned in connection with the charges two weeks ago.

State Attorney Ester Wilson, for the prosecution, informed the court that investigations into the matter have not been completed. She requested the court to adjourn the case for another mention.

The prosecution alleged that the accused persons committed the offence of leading organised crime on diverse dates between January 1 and December 21, last year, in various places in the city of Dar es Salaam.

Jointly and together, according to the prosecution, the accused persons willfully organised and managed a criminal racket of accepting, collecting and selling government trophies involving 161 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 220.96 Kgs.

The prosecution told the court that the consignment valued at 690,000 US dollars (1,466,250,000/-), was property of the United Republic of Tanzania.

It is alleged that the accused persons engaged in dealing in government trophies without a permit from the Director of Wildlife.

It is alleged further that between January 1 andDecember 21 last year, at Temeke Mibani area within Temeke District, jointly and together, Mwaipyana and Mnekea were found in possession of the elephant tusks without permit from the Director of Wildlife Division.