Five arraigned in Narok court for dealing in wildlife trophies
Ann Salaton, Kenya News
January 10, 2025
See link
https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/five-arraigned-in-narok-court-for-dealing-in-wildlife-trophies/
for photo.
Five people among them two women were arraigned in a Narok court where they
were charged with dealing with wildlife trophies without a valid permit
from the director general of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) or other lawful
exemptions. The five Paul Mosonik, Paul Mutai, Cornelius Rotich, Beatrice
Chelangat and Caroline Chebet were arrested on January 7, 2025 at Mulot
trading centre where they were found dealing in four pieces of elephant
tusks weighing 36.55 kilograms. The tusks are said to have been concealed
in a green sack and with a street value of Sh3.19 million.
The court heard that at the time of arrest, the five did not have a valid
permit from the director general KWS despite elephants being categorized as
endangered species under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act. The
five suspects pleaded not guilty before Narok Principal Magistrate Phyillis
Shinyanda. However, they were not released on bond as the prosecution team
led by Principal state counsel Peninnah Mwaniki argued that they were a
flight risk who could flee to the neighbouring country, Tanzania. The
pre-bail ruling will be made on January 21, 2025.
https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/five-arraigned-in-narok-court-for-dealing-in-wildlife-trophies/