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Poachers Jailed for 13 Years in Mangochi

Poachers Jailed for 13 Years in Mangochi

The Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday, August 5, 2022, convicted and sentenced Angile Samilu, 42 and Mapaketi Aliki, 61 to 13-years imprisonment with hard labor each for contravening National Parks and Wildlife Act.

The court heard through Eastern Region Prosecution Officer, Superintendent Josephine Chigawa, that on July 20, 2022, the parks and wildlife officials were tipped by members of the community that the two were selling antelope meat at their houses in Mgoji Village in the area of Traditional Authority Bwananyambi in the District.

She said parks officials rushed to the houses with officers from Masuku Police Unit where the accused were arrested after being found with a bucket full of fresh and boiled Sable Antelope meat, including the head, skin and hooves.

“They also led the two parties to Mangochi Forest Reserve, around Mdeka area where they found two traps and a spear in the protected area which they used to kill the endangered species,” added prosecutor Chigawa.

Appearing in court, both accused pleaded guilty to four counts leveled against them, but asked for court's leniency stating that they have family obligations in their mitigation.

In her submission, Chigawa cited that the accused persons planned very well and entered into a protected area and executed the crime without being noticed.

“Offences of such nature are common and the Antelope is worth millions of Kwacha,” explained Chigawa while pleading with the court to impose a fine that would not be less than the value of the Antelope.

Passing the sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe, concurred with the state and sentenced each of them to 3-years for the count of entering into the protected area without permission, 6-years for carrying a weapon without permission.

Michongwe also sentenced the two each 13-years for killing an endangered animal species and 9-years imprisonment with hard labour for possessing a specimen of endangered species, but all sentences to run concurrently.

Both convicts hail from Mgoji Village Traditional Authority Bwananyambi in Mangochi.

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