WILDLEX

The appellant was appealing against the decision of the High Court which ruled that the offence which the respondents were charged with was not an economic crime to be tried before the High Court and thus ordered that the matter to be remitted back to the trial court for necessary amendments of the charge and proceed with trial accordingly.

The appellant was convicted by the District Court of Monduli at Monduli in absentia for unlawful possession of government trophy. He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment for twenty (20) years.

The appellant appealed against both conviction and sentence passed by the District Court of Karatu in economic case No. 4 of 2014. It was alleged during trial that on 30th January, 2013 at Rhotia village within Karatu District the accused was found in unlawful possession of one elephant tusk weighing 12.4 kg valued at Tshs.

With the help of an informer, the accused person on 24th December 2000 at Mto wa Mbu area within Monduli District, Arusha region was found at Zanzibar guest house with two elephant tusks and three hippopotamus tusks property of the Tanzania government. The accused was found not guilty and therefore was acquitted.

The Anti-Poaching Unit received information from their informer that there is a business if elephants tusk about to happen in Arusha-Njiro area. Posing as buyers, the Unit contacted the seller about the possibility of buying the tusks. The sellers fell into a trap and showed the unit the tusks.

The accused persons on 12.07.2014 at Kaloleni area within Arusha city were found in unlawful possession of five ivory tusks the property of Tanzania Government. In this case, Anti-poaching Unit received a tip from an informer that the accused person were in possession of ivory tusks and were looking for a buyer.

That on 21st May, 2012 at Msima forest within Mpanda District in Katavi Region the accused person was found with government trophies. Then brought before the court to answer a charge. The accused was convicted.

On 3rd May, 2013 in the village of Kilida within Mlele district in the Katavi region the accused person was found with unlawful possession of government trophies to wit elephant meat. The accused was found guilty.

On 29th January, 2014 at Kawajense area within Mpanda District accused person was arraigned of unlawful possession of government trophies. Then brought before the court to answer the charge. The first accused was convicted and the second accused was acquitted.

On 1st January, 2016 the accused person was arrested and arraigned of unlawful possession of government trophies. Also was found with the consignment of elephant tusks. Charges were brought before the court against the accused person. The accused person was convicted.