SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:
- A Kwale National Police Service officer has found himself on the wrong side of the law when he failed to appear in court to testify.
- The NPS officer has failed to attend court to testify on the last four scheduled hearings in an ivory possession case from December 2017.
- The accused, Hasira Makoti Mwanzala, was a Kwale county enforcement officer when he arrested and found with 16 kg of ivory 3 1/2 years ago.
UPDATE: On September 20th, 2021, Police Constable Ronald Kiriu, of the Kwale Police Station, appeared as a witness in this trial. He stated that he had only been appointed as IO (Investigating Officer) this past April 4th, on the passing of the preceding IO. The warrant had been reminded.
June 29th, 2021: In Kwale Law Courts today, Senior Resident Magistrate Joe Omido, issued a warrant of arrest for the investigating officer in a 3 1/2 year old ivory possession case.
On December 17th, 2017, Hasira Makoti Mwanzala, a Kwale County enforcement officer, was arrested by KWS and NPS officers in the area of Shimba Hills National Reserve. He was found in possession of two tusks weighing 16 kg and charged accordingly.
Today was scheduled to be the closing of the prosecution’s case with testimony of the NPS Police Constable. He was not in attendance having notified the courts that he was on leave.
The DPP’s request for a summons was denied by SRM Omido after a plea from the unrepresented accused to close the case. It was realized that the said Police Constable had missed three previous hearings besides today for: temporary transfer for other duties, attending training, and an unknown reason while off duty. SRM Omido stated: “games are being played here”.
In addition to the arrest warrant being issued, the Kwale magistrate has ordered the proceedings to be typed, with info copies sent to the police county commander for Kwale County as well as the head of KWS in the region.
The case, CF 843/2017, will return to court on July 15th for mention.
Teacher, county officer arrested in Kwale with 50kg ivory
Two men arrested on Friday with ivory worth Sh4 million are government officials, it has emerged.
Said Kuzidi, a school teacher at Mwamasa Primary School, was arrested with 34 kilogrammes of ivory at Mtsangatamu, Matuga subcounty.
Hamisi Makoti, a county enforcement officer, was arrested with 16 kilogrammes of ivory in Tiribe.
KWS deputy warden Nathan Gatundu said the suspects are currently at Kwale police station and will be arraigned on Monday.
“This means two elephants lost their lives. Replacing them will be difficult,” Nathan said.
The KWS official added that the ivory was not fresh saying the suspects had sought a buyer by the time of their arrest.
