Court told ivory case probe over
What you need to know:
- State Attorney Paul Kadushi assisted by Faraja Nchimbi told the court when the case would be ready for mention, but asked the court for time to seek consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to allow the case be heard by a lower court.
- Resident Magistrate Huruma Shahidi agreed with the request and adjourned the case to September 23.
Dar es Salaam. Investigations into the ivory smuggling case facing Chinese woman Yang Feng Glan dubbed “queen of ivory” are complete, the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court was informed on Thursday.
State Attorney Paul Kadushi assisted by Faraja Nchimbi told the court when the case would be ready for mention, but asked the court for time to seek consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to allow the case be heard by a lower court.
Resident Magistrate Huruma Shahidi agreed with the request and adjourned the case to September 23.
Ms Yang and her co-accused, Salvius Matembo and Manase Philemon, were arraigned on October 7 last year charged with a number of counts, including smuggling ivory worth Sh5.4 billion between January 1, 2000 and May 22, 2014.
Earlier the prosecution led by state attorney Faraja Nchimbi, informed the court that investigations were still on going and asked the court to set a date for another mention.
The accused were allegedly involved in the smuggling and trading in 706 elephant tusks weighing 1,889 kilogrammes and worth at the sum amount without a licence from the Director of Wildlife. The three are also charged with involvement in organised crime. They are alleged to have illegally collected, transported and sold the ivory for profit. Philemon is also charged with escaping from lawful custody.
