Seven Dar residents arraigned over export of illegal ivory export
By Rosina John
Six Dar es Salaam residents were yesterday charged with illegal export of more than 11 tons of elephant tusks worth over Sh684 million.
The accused who are officials of three clearing and forwarding Companies, were accused of illegally exporting 11,061km of the tusks. The suspects include Directors of Uplands Freighters, Forwarders Mr Nebart Kiwale also Mr Issa Lweno, a clearing and forwarding manager of the Company.
Others were named as Eladius Tesha a director of Team freight Company and import and the company export manager Mr Gabriel Chambo.
In the dock were also director of Nectar Logistic Company, Mr Abubakar Hassan and Mr Issa Lweno, a clearing and forwarding manager and Shaban Yasin, the executive director of Kigoma M.N Enterprises.
The six appeared before two different magistrates at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court where their charge was read before they were driven back to remand prison until August 3 when the court will rule on their bail request.
It was alleged before resident magistrate Aniseta Wambura and Mohamed Mchenyemu, that the accused face various counts including conspiracy and illegal exporting of the government trophies to Philippines and Vietnam by using false shipping documents.
State Attorney Prosper Mwangamila told the court on the first count that between October last year and March this year in Dar es Salaam, the accused conspired to export the government trophies without a lawful authority.
The accused were also charged with illegally dealing in the government trophies contrary to section 64(1) and 68 of the Wildlife Law by engaging on the business without a valid trophy dealer’s license.
Prosecution further alleged that the accused uttered false shipping orders, bills of landing issued by Sharaf Shipping Agency Company and Custom declaration forms for containers number TSLU 6219947 and ECMU 1642240.
They are alleged to forge the document purporting to show to be true shipping documents for the goods in the containers and managed to export the elephant tusks concealed as recycle waste plastic to Manila-Philippines and Vietnam by using custom declaration forms.
All accused pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy and uttering false documents where by they were not allowed to enter nay plea to other charges since they are falling in economic crime acts, which can only be heard by the higher court.
After the charge was read, advocate representing the accused Mr Juma Nassor asked the court to grant them bail on the ground that the offences were bailable.
The arguments were strongly objected by prosecution with State Attorney, Mr Mwangamila, telling the court that the offences that the accused are charged with fall under economic crime act that the lower court has no jurisdiction power to grant them bail.
He also told the court that the value of the contraband in question was over Sh600 million and the court has no authority to deal with bail in the value that exceed Sh10 million.
