BY SILAS NKALA

A MAN from Lusulu in Binga has been jailed to 24 years for illegal possession of 174 pangolin scales weighing 2,525kg and a 306 rifle.

Killion Siacho (35) pleaded not guilty to the charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and pangolin scales when he appeared before Matabeleland North provincial magistrate Livard Philemon in Hwange.

The magistrate convicted him at the close of the State case on both counts. In the first count, he sentenced him to 15 years and on the second, to nine years in jail.

Prosecutor Jamesina Makanza told the court that on February 22, at 6:30am, wildlife rangers and police were on routine patrol in Lusulu where they received information that Siacho was in possession of a rifle and ammunition.