Two suspects were on Wednesday charged with trafficking ivory worth Ksh.2.6 million in Nakuru town.
The two suspects identified as,Samuel Wahome and Hillary Kiplagat who were before Chief Magistrate Josephat Kalo however denied the charges of being in possession of the 13 kilogram elephant tusks on November 6, 2018.
The duo were arrested yesterday.
Announcing there arrest,Directorate of Criminal Investigative (DCI) said,” Detectives working jointly with @kwskenya officials yesterday arrested Mr. Samuel Wahome & Mr. Hillary Kiplangat in Nakuru Town for being in Possession of Elephant Tusks (weighing 13kgs) worth millions of shillings concealed in a Manila sack. Arraigned in court Today”end of tweet.
#Poaching|Detectives working jointly with @kwskenya officials yesterday arrested Mr. Samuel Wahome & Mr. Hillary Kiplangat in Nakuru Town for being in Possession of Elephant Tusks (weighing 13kgs) worth millions of shillings concealed in a Manila sack. Arraigned in court Today. pic.twitter.com/0WLbgR3LLR
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) November 7, 2018
According to the charge sheet, in November 6, 2018 at Shell Filling Station within Nakuru Town, the two were found in possession of four elephant tusks without a permit from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and in contravention of the Wildlife Conservation Act.
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The two, together with others not before court, also faced a second count of dealing with wildlife trophies without a permit.
The suspects are reported to have tried to sell off the said tusks which were found stashed in green and white manila sacks concealed as wood.
The two, who sought to be released on reasonable bond terms were freed on a Ksh.1 million bond each with a surety of the same amount or an alternative cash bail of Ksh.500,000 pending hearing of the matter.