September 5th, 2023 (Hearing): Today’s hearing did not take place as the 3rd and 5th accused, Wesley Adweya and Rawling Innocent, were in custody in the Nairobi area for other offences and their release had not been obtained by counsel through the courts. Today’s prosecution witness, CI Inoti was present. The hearing has been adjourned to September 28th at 2:00pm.
In the last 20 months, there have been 14 scheduled hearing dates. Three hearings took place, each hearing one witness.
- On the evening of June 26th, 2017, officers from the Special Crimes Prevention Unit received information on a property in the Utawala Estate, Nairobi, where a quantity of ivory was located. Utawala Estate is located just north of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
- SCPU officers maintained surveillance on the property until the next morning when they conducted a search as two persons were about to leave.
- The resulting search found 217 kg of cut ivory, much of it already wrapped, along with scales, cutting equipment and packaging materials.
- Five men were arrested on the property and a pickup vehicle seized. Four of the five had with employment ties to Jomo Kenyatta Airport.
- A sixth male and the alleged ring leader, Abdinur Ibrahim Ali, was arrested a short time later off site. A seventh man, a Somali national and Mozambique resident, Ahmed Mohamud Salah alias Ahmed Mahabub Gedi, was arrested a few days later while attempting to flee Kenya at the Namanga border crossing.
- All seven appeared in court and were released on bail. The release of Ahmed Salah, with no Kenyan ties, a Somali national with residence and employment in Mozambique, arrested while fleeing the country with fraudulently obtained travel documents would be considered highly irregular. He has not been seen since release.
- Since the arrest, investigators have found that both Abdinoor Ibrahim Ali and Ahmed Mohamud Salah have connections to the West African ivory cartel based in Kampala.
#143 is a number assigned indicating this seizure has a link(s) to the West African cartel and its ivory was not DNA analysed.
COURT PROGRESS
Previously – Chief Magistrate Esther Boke
August 29th, 2023 (Hearing): The scheduled hearing with expected testimony from the IO, Chief Inspector Inoti, and the Safaricom Liaison Officer, did not occur as both were not present for reasons not specified. Chief Inspector Inoti had informed another Kibera court last week that he was no longer the seconded DCI officer to KWS and was now working in Uganda. He did, however, tell that court that he would make himself available for a trial on September 6th.
This matter, 1649/17, has been adjourned for hearing to September 5th. Advocates for the accused requested from Senior Principal Magistrate S.O. Temu that all remaining witnesses be produced on that date.
- one prosecution witness testified, the owner of the rented property where the ivory was found.
- next hearings scheduled for November 18th and 23rd.
FILE | 1649/17 |
SEIZURE DATE | June 27th, 2017 |
CONTRABAND SEIZED and CIRCUMSTANCES | 216.76 kg of worked ivory, in 105 pieces, many already packaged and wrapped for air freight |
LOCATION | A rented home in Utawala Estate, Nairobi (near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) |
POINT OF ORIGIN | Reported to have come from DRC but also Meru National Park. DNA analysis has not been done to confirm. |
ACCUSED | Julius Abluu Adika, Abdinur Ibrahim Ali, Wesley Adweya, Hillary Karani, Rawling Innocent, Ronson Ogondi Njue, Ahmed Mohamud Salah alias Ahmed Mahabub Gedi |
CHARGED | Possession of Wildlife Trophies, Dealing in Wildlife Trophies, Acting in Concert with others contrary to Prevention of Organized Crimes Act |
COURT | Kibera |
VALUE (Charge Sheet) | Ksh 21, 676,000.00 (USD $ 216,000) |
OTHER CONTRABAND | Cutting machine, weight scales, packaging materials, generator |
TRANSPORT | Isuzu KCJ 042 |
ARRESTING AGENCY | National Police Service – Special Crimes Prevention Unit |
CONNECTIONS/LINKS |
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10 key dealers nabbed and 289 kilos of ivory seized
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE
Vehicle impounded with Sh21 Million ivory missing
by Clause Masika April 19th, 2019
Lawyer successfully applied for it to be released to owner
In Summary
