THE SAGA OF THE RELEASE OF THE THREE SUSPECTS OF POACHING ELEPHANT'S TUSKS HAS BEEN TABLED TO THE REGISTRAR OF THE COURT OF MANYARA REGION

 

By Staff Writter, Babati.

maipacarusha20@gmail.com

The saga of the release of the three suspects who were arrested with six pieces of elephant tusks has landed at the court registrar in Manyara Region.

The suspects, Bashiru Ally, Daniel Gwandu and Frank Gadiye, were released by the acting Resident Magistrate of the Manyara regional court Mariam Lusewa due to lack of evidence to convict them.

Due to the judgment, Which was issued on November 20 last year, has been challenged by the Public Prosecutor's Office (DPP) in Manyara region and the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) who submitted a notice of appeal but for more than two months now they have failed to get the process of the case to continue with appeal.

Speaking to journalists in his office, the Deputy Registrar of the High Court in Manyara Region, Mpepo Bernard said his office had no complaints about the case.

However, he has ordered the DPP's office to be given the proceedings for an appeal by tomorrow February 7, this year.

"If for all this time they have not received the proceedings of the case, it is a problem, but I have ordered that it be printed quickly and handed over to the appellants" he said

He said that usually the proceedings of the case should have been ready within a month.

"Wednesday (tomorrow) the proceedings of the case will be ready because there is still time to appeal as they have already submitted a notice of appeal" he said.

Earlier TAWA Prosecutor, Getrude Kariongi in collaboration with the DPP have sent a notice of appeal but since November last year they had not received any proceedings.

"There are challenges in these cases of poaching because if the suspects are released for a long time, it is difficult to find them because many of them run away, that's why we have been asking for the proceedings to appeal," he said.

He said that on their part, the DPP and TAWA believe they have enough evidence to proceed with the case in order to stop poaching incidents in the country.

The suspects who were released were arrested on March 3 last year, with six pieces of elephant tusks at Madunga road, Babati district, Manyara region.

The tusks were worth 137,910,300 million shs and were being carried in transport carts where the motorcycles carrying the Tusks were also seized.