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NewsDay

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9 years for possessing pangolin

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HARARE magistrate Tendai Mahwe yesterday slapped Stanley Madhaizi (45) with the mandatory nine years for illegal possession of a pangolin – which he was trying to sell to undercover detectives.

HARARE magistrate Tendai Mahwe yesterday slapped Stanley Madhaizi (45) with the mandatory nine years for illegal possession of a pangolin – which he was trying to sell to undercover detectives.

by PAIDAMOYO MUZULU

Mahwe, in passing sentence, said he had taken into consideration rising cases of people dealing in protected animals.

“This is now a prevalent offence and deterrent sentences should be given to protect our wildlife. I have found no special circumstances that could sway me from giving mandatory sentence. You are sentenced to nine years in prison,” Mahwe said.

Madhaizi, who denied the charge, told the court in mitigation that he was married with six children and was the sole breadwinner through self-employment as a plumber in the city.

It was the State case that Madhaizi, sometime in October this year, travelled with seven others from Mount Darwin with the intention of selling a pangolin to buyers in the capital.

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On arrival in Harare they drove to the secluded civic grounds between the Rainbow Towers Hotel and Harare Magistrates Court, from there they made calls to the potential buyers who came in the middle of the night.

Madhaizi and his accomplice then fished out the pangolin from their car boot and started negotiating a price, leading to their arrest.

The other six accomplices were discharged at the close of the State case, as they argued they were mere passengers in the vehicle and the prosecution had failed to link them to the case.

Francesca Mukumbiri prosecuted the matter.