Five arraigned for smuggling tortoises
The five individuals were trying to sneak out 201 live tortoises.
What you need to know:
Those arraigned before Kisutu resident magistrate Respicius Mwijage are: David Mungi, 36, Mustafa Bakar, 43, Mohammed Seleman, 43 and Salum Wakili, 30, both businessmen based in Zanzibar as well as Shaban Haji, 45, who is a fisherman.
Dar es Salaam. Five people were yesterday charged with attempt to smuggle 201 live tortoises through Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA).
Those arraigned before Kisutu resident magistrate Respicius Mwijage are: David Mungi, 36, Mustafa Bakar, 43, Mohammed Seleman, 43 and Salum Wakili, 30, both businessmen based in Zanzibar as well as Shaban Haji, 45, who is a fisherman.
State attorney, Ms Ester Martin, alleged that between November 1 and 16, the accused transported national trophies from different parts of the country contrary to the Wildlife Management Act.
The accused were arrested on November 16 at the JNIA as they tried to smuggle a total of 201 live tortoise, valued at Sh30 million, to Malaysia.
They were not allowed to enter into any plea because the court didn’t have the jurisdiction to hear such cases and the case was adjourned to December 14 after the prosecution asked for more time to complete their investigation.
The accused were remanded as magistrate Mwijage advised the accused to apply for bail in the High Court.
The five were arrested by police in collaboration with wildlife officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.
Airports police commander Martin Otieno told reporters shortly after their arrest, the accused were to board an Emirates flight bound for Malaysia via Dubai.
