THREE of four suspected poachers who were arrested for
illegal possession of 76,7kg of raw ivory were on Wednesday last week
acquitted, while one was placed on his defence after the State succeeded in
convincing the court that he had a case to answer.
A Zimbabwe National Army deserter, Faunel Luphahla (34),
Dete villager, Ndaba Ncube (27) and a Gwabalanda resident, Innocencia Siwela
(42) represented by a lawyer Thulani Nkala denied the charge of possession and
transfer of raw ivory without a permit when they appeared before Hwange
magistrate Livard Philemon.
Their lawyer filed an application for discharge at the
close of the State’s case, indicating that the State had failed to prove a case
against his clients. On Wednesday the magistrate upheld the applications.
The State represented by Vumizulu Mangena, however,
convinced the court that one of the suspects, Alos Savanhu (38) had a case to
answer.
Savanhu, represented by Givemore Muviringi, was remanded to
Wednesday.
Mangena had told the court that on February 12 at 9pm a
team of Zimbabwe Parks and Wild Life Management, Criminal Investigations
Department, Mineral Fauna and Flora Unit Dete base were on patrol along
Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road when they came across two suspicious vehicles
parked by the roadside.
They stopped to investigate, but one of the cars sped off.
The driver of the remaining car bolted and disappeared into the bush. The
passenger, Savanhu, also tried to run away, but was arrested.
The car was taken to vehicle inspection section and the
police discovered a plastic bag containing three pieces of raw ivory and
Savanhu confirmed them to be his.
He then made calls to the other three accomplices, leading
to their arrest and recovery of 76,7kg of ivory valued $19 176. Newsday
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