I have never seen ivory until my arrest, says Feisal

Mombasa businessman Feisal Mohamed Ali has said he saw ivory for the first time in his life during court proceedings at the Mombasa Marine Park.

Mr Ali, who has been charged with four other people with possessing ivory valued at Sh44 million, described the allegations as strange.

In his unsworn evidence, he said on his arrest police did not take a statement or interrogate him.

He described his arrest in Dar es Salaam as a “hijacking” as he was not allowed to take any of his documents or speak to his people.

Mr Ali said he received a call from co-accused Ghalib Kara, who informed him there was a problem at Fuji Motors over a vehicle he had left there.

Another suspect, Mr Abdul Halim Sadiq, said Mr Ali called him and told him to go to Fuji Motors to help “mzee” as police were at the place.

“I found a truck full of police officers and called Feisal, who told me to go inside,” Mr Sadiq said, adding that police insisted he (Sadiq) was the manager.

Mr Kara, the managing director of Fuji Motors, told the court that he deals in vehicles. He said Mr Ali sometimes brought vehicles for sale and for display.

He said he is not aware of any contraband in any of the cars at his premises.

“I have no dealing with ivory or contraband goods as alleged by the Director of Public Prosecutions,” Mr Kara said.

The other accused people, Mr Praverz Noor Mohamed and Mr Abdulmajeed Ibrahim, also denied dealing or being in possession of ivory.

Last week, the court ruled that the accused had a case to answer.

The case has been fixed for submissions on June 17.