Two women in Msambweni, Mombasa County, have been charged with illegally dealing in wildlife trophies worth Ksh11 million.
The two, Tima Omar Suya and Bahatisha Juma Said, were allegedly arrested with five pieces of elephant tusks weighing 111.98 kg with a street value of Ksh11,198,000.
According to the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the two do not have permits to deal in wildlife trophies in Kenya.
“Tima Omar Suya and Bahatisha Juma Said 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,” ODPP stated.
Transporting wildlife trophy
They are accused of concealing the trophies in sacks and ferrying them on board a motor vehicle without a permit.
“Suya and Said were also charged with being in possession of 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 two accused persons allegedly committed both offences on 6 January 2024 at around 0900hrs am in the Majoreni area of Lungalunga Sub County within Kwale County,” ODPP added.
The prosecution, through Senior Prosecution Counsel Alice Mbaeh, did not object to their release on bond.
The two were each released on a Ksh3 million bond with two sureties.
The case will be mentioned on January 24, 2024, and heard on February 21, 2024.
