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Peter Matika, [email protected]
A 37-YEAR-OLD man from Beitbridge has been sentenced to 9-years in prison after being found in possession of a pangolin.
Dimbwani Muleya was sentenced by a Beitbridge Magistrate after he was found in possession of the protected animal which he was trying to sell.
According to the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) on 14 May this year police and members of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) received a tip off to the effect that the Muleya was in possession of a pangolin and was in search of a buyer in Makhado in the border town.
Police detectives and ZimParks rangers laid a trap, and arranged to meet with Muleya at Makhado Ranch turn off.
Muleya arrived in a Nissan AD van and got into the investigation’s team vehicle where he negotiated with the team members and agreed to sell the pangolin at US$3 000.
“The pangolin was in a white plastic bucket. The investigation team identified themselves before asking Muleya to produce a permit granting him the authority to be in possession of the pangolin. Muleya failed to produce one leading to his arrest,” read a statement from NPA.