Tanzania: Man sentenced to four and half years for possessing pangolin

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Principal Resident Magistrate Godfrey Balaka has convicted and sentenced Christopher Wilson to four and half years for illegal possession of spacemen of listed spaces contrary to section 86(1) as read with section 110B(b) of the National and Wildlife Act. Cap 66.07 of the laws of Malawi and part 111B.

Passing the judgment, the principal Resident Magistrate cited how pangolins are being maltreated, in the country.

” I understand that the convict is the first offender, he has also pleaded guilty.

” But pangolins are being maltreated in the country,” reads part of the sentence.

The Magistrate also added that the nature of the case was a felony and it takes a maximum sentence of thirty years, but he considered that Christopher already stayed longer in remand, and he was the first offender and he pleaded guilty.

But before the judgment, the region prosecutor for South East, Inspector Michael Paulino prayed for stiffer punishments to deter the other offenders.

Paulino observed that the convict had already ill intentions over the spacemen as he took it from Mwanza to Chikwawa looking for a market.

But defense lawyer council Humphrey Panyala prayed for leniency as the person was 46 years old, the first offender and the case he committed was not worse as the pangolin was found alive.

Panyala asked the court to give him one and a half years of custodial and suspend to community service.

Magistrate Balaka gave four and half years after scrutinizing those sentiments from the prosecution and defense.

Christopher Wilson comes from Kalanga Village, TA Govati in the Mwanza district.

By: Faceofmalawi