Ukrainian national charged with smuggling of 116 tortoises

Dar es Salaam. A Ukrainian national, Orga Kryshtopa, has been arraigned at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court, facing two charges, including smuggling 116 tortoises worth Sh18.9 million, without a permit.

Kryshtop charges were read at the court on Wednesday, June 21, by the State Attorney, Judith Kyamba, before the Chief Resident Magistrate, Amir Msumi.

Before her charges were read, Judge Msumi told the accused that she did not have to answer anything because the court does not have jurisdiction to hear economic sabotage cases except with the permission of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Reading the charges, Advocate Kyamba claimed that in the first charge, between January 20 and July 30, 2022 in Dar es Salaam, the accused was involved in buying, selling, and transporting 116 tortoises worth Sh18.9 million belonging to the government of Tanzania.

In the second charge, allegedly on the same dates, at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA), Ms Kryshtopa was arrested with the tortoises without a permit from Tanzania’s Director of Wildlife.

The prosecution has claimed that the investigation of the case has not yet been completed, so it has asked for another date for the mention.

Judge Msumi has adjourned the case until June 28, 2023, when prosecution expects to add another accused person.

The accused has been remanded in custody until that date.