Two women nabbed with five pieces of Sh11m elephant tusks in Kwale
by CYRUS OMBATI Chief Crime Reporter
The Star
09 January 2024 – 08:20
Two women were January 6, arrested with five pieces of elephant tusks that weighed 111 kilos and valued at Sh11 million in a village in Kwale.
They were nabbed with the trophies at around 9 am in the Majoreni area of Lungalunga subcounty within Kwale.
This happened as they sought a market for the trophies and approached undercover officials.
They were Monday charged before a Msambweni court for dealing in a wildlife trophy of an endangered species.
The two were jointly charged with dealing in wildlife trophies of an endangered species without a permit or other lawful exemptions, contrary to Section 92(2) as read with Section 105(1) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013.
It is alleged that the two women concealed the wildlife trophies in sacks and ferried them on board a motor vehicle without a permit.
They were also charged with having wildlife trophies of an endangered species without a permit or other lawful exemption, contrary to Section 92(4) as read with Section 105(1) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013.
The prosecution, through Senior Prosecution Counsel Alice Mbaeh, did not object to their release on bond. They were each released on a Sh4 million bond with two sureties.
The matter will be mentioned on January 24, 2024, and heard on February 21, 2024.
This case can be followed through the courts at: E011/24 Msambweni – R. vs. Tima Omar Suya and Bahatisha Juma Said 111.98 kg ivory
MP’s Ex-Wife In Court Over Possession of KSh 11M Elephant Tusks
by Michael Ollinga, Tuko
January 10, 2024
An ex-wife of a former Kenyan MP has been arraigned for being found in possession of elephant tusks worth KSh 11.1 million.
Tima Omar, the ex-wife of a former Msambweni MP Omar Zonga was charged alongside Bahatisha Juma Said for allegedly being in possession of 111.98kg of elephant tusks.
Tima was married to the former legislator before the two parted ways after irreconcilable differences. The two were arrested on Saturday, January 6, at around 9a.m. while in the Majoreni area of Lunga Lunga, Kwale county. Wildlife trophies laws in Kenya Charge details indicated that the suspect was arrested with at least five elephant tusks in a Nissan Lafesta car with registration number KDE 523 U, linked to a Shimoni-base police officer. Appearing before Msambweni Chief Magistrate Sandra Ogoto, Tima and Bahatisha faced at least two counts of being in illegal possession of wildlife trophies. According to a charge sheet, the two suspects were found in possession of wildlife trophies, namely five pieces of elephant tusks weighing 111.98kg with a street value of KSh 11 198 000. Elephant tusks are classified as trophies of endangered species.
According to the police cover report, the five elephant tusks had been concealed in white sacks and packed in the vehicle without a permit or other lawful exemption, contrary to Section 92(2) as read with Section 105(1) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act. In the second count, Tima and Bahatisha were charged with being in possession of endangered species trophies without any official permit. Bail terms for breaking wildlife conservation laws in Kenya They denied the charges and were granted KSh 3 million each with the same surety amounts ahead of the case’s mention on Wednesday, January 24. The court set the case hearing date for February 21, 2024. Following the arrest and charging, wildlife lobby groups are now calling on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to go after the owner of the impounded vehicle and establish his role, alleging that it belonged to a security officer.
Caleb Ngwela, one of the rights defenders, claimed that the vehicle was the property of a police officer. He said the DCI should go after the officer and expose them for abusing their office by colluding with lawbreakers and abetting illegalities.
