Two charged with illegal possession of Sh2.6m elephant tusks
Hillary Kiplangat and Samuel Wahome, who were charged at a Nakuru court on November 7, 2018 with illegal possession of elephant tusks worth Sh2.6 million. PHOTO | JOSEPH OPENDA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Two men found with elephant tusks were charged at a Nakuru court on Wednesday with illegal possession of wildlife trophies.
Mr Samuel Wahome (40) and Mr Hillary Kiplangat (45), who faced Chief Magistrate Josephat Kalo, were found with four pieces of tusks weighing 13kg and valued at Sh2.6 million.
The four pieces of elephant tusks worth Sh2.6 million, that Hillary Kiplangat and Samuel Wahome were found with despite lacking a permit, after presentation at a Nakuru court on November 7, 2018. PHOTO | JOSEPH OPENDA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
TRAP
Mr Wahome and Mr Kiplangat were arrested by officials of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) on November 6 at Industrial Area in Nakuru town.
According to the prosecution, KWS detectives posed as prospective buyers of the tusks that were being sold at Shell Petrol Station.
The found the trophies hidden in gunny bags by the two, who did not have a licence from the director general of the KWS.
Mr Wahome and Mr Kiplangat were also charged with dealing with wildlife trophies without a permit.
The suspects denied the charges and were each released on a Sh1 million bond with a surety of the same amount, with the alternative of a cash bail of Sh500,000.
The case will be mentioned on January 23 and heard on February 13.
