By Max Mahara Medison

Salima, January 9, Mana: Salima First Grade Magistrate Court has convicted and sentenced Rashid Peter, 33, to a seven-year jail term for being found in possession of three ivories weighing 4.9 kilograms.

According to State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Justice Manolo, Peter was arrested following a tip-off.

Police learned that he was attempting to sell the ivory at Katelera Trading Centre in Salima.

In mitigation, Peter asked for leniency, citing his family obligations.

The State, however, called for a stiffer penalty, emphasizing the severity of the crime.

The magistrate stated that the three ivory found in Peter’s possession meant that multiple elephants, a protected species and critical to the country’s economy through foreign exchange earnings, were killed which is contrary to the National Parks and Wildlife Act of 2017.

First Grade Magistrate, Anthony Banda, agreed with the State’s submission and imposed the seven-year sentence to serve as a deterrent to other potential offenders.

Peter hails from Mgaya Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Kambwiri in Salima.