Pangolins land four in jail

News
Four men from Chief Mutasa appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with the contravention of the Parks and Wildlife Act after they were found trying to sell two pangolins.

Four men from Chief Mutasa appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with the contravention of the Parks and Wildlife Act after they were found trying to sell two pangolins.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

The accused — Joshua Kashiri (30), Darlington Chiriya (23), Jeremiah Nyamutowera (28) and Noah Itai Kufuma (48), who are all represented by Tawanda Takaindisa — were not asked to plead when they appeared before magistrate Josephine Sande, who remanded them to April 19.

They were advised to approach the High Court for bail. Prosecutors said on April 1, detectives received information that the accused had two pangolins and were looking for a buyer.

The detectives teamed up with Henry Macllwaine from Matusadona Anti-Poaching Project, who was acting as a buyer, and went to Harare Gardens to meet the four.

Detectives were communicating with Nyamutowera through his mobile phone.

At Harare Gardens they met Nyamutowera and discussed the sale. After an agreement was reached, the suspect asked his accomplices to bring the pangolins that were inside a black bag.

The pangolins were wrapped in a white sack and one of them had died. Detectives then pounced on the quartet.