Two men sentenced to five years imprisonment for unlawful possession of a live pangolin

TWO suspects have been sent to five years imprisonment with hard labour for unlawful possession of a live pangolin.

The car that the suspects used in the crime, a Toyota Surf registration number ARB 1330 has also been forfeited to the State.

Ministry of Tourism and Arts public relations officer Sakabilo Kalembwe said this in a statement released to Mwebantu.

Mr Kalembwe said Wildlife Police Officers from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife in January this year arrested six people in Monze, among them were the two who have been convicted for the live pangolin which they were secretly trying to sale to members of the public.

The two convicts join Peter Phiri who was earlier convicted on his own plea of guilty.

This was in a matter in which the duo namely Cephas Zulu and Mayungano Musheke who were earlier jointly charged with Peter Phiri, Patrick Mulenga, Charles Mbao and Peter Nthani after being arrested by wildlife police officers in Monze in November 2015 for being in possession of a live pangolin without the necessary documents issued by the Zambia Wildlife Authority.

The two suspects were convicted after a judgment that was passed on July 2, 2016, while the three (3) Patrick Mulenga, Charles Mbao and Peter Nthani were acquitted