Two in court over Sh91m ivory seized at Mombasa port

Two men were Tuesday charged in court in connection with ivory worth Sh91,650,000 seized at the port of Mombasa in December last year.

Fredrick Sababu Mungule and Gideon Naftali Onsinyo Nyangau were charged with conspiring to contravene provisions of the East African Community Custom Management act by bringing into a customs area 1099 pieces of ivory weighing 1833 kilogrammes stuffed in a container for export to Vietnam.

They allegedly committed the offence on diverse dates between December 1 and 17, 2012 at unknown place within the republic of Kenya.

Mombasa Magistrate Stephen Riechi granted state prosecutor Samson Kiptum’s application to issue warrant of arrest against the third accused person, Nelson Oyoo who is at large.

Mr Kiptum told the trial magistrate that the suspect is in an unknown place along the Kenya-Tanzania border and efforts to apprehend him are ongoing.

READ: Detectives seek suspects behind Sh100m ivory haul

“Your honour, I wish to humbly request the court to issue an arrest warrant against the third accused person who has since remained at large,” he added.

According to the prosecution, the three accused, with others not before court, also brought into the customs area prohibited goods for purpose of exportation.

The court further ordered that the suspect be remanded until December 6, 2013 when their case will be heard as police continues investigating the case.

The suspects were arrested on Monday within Mombasa law courts shortly after attending hearing of a second case in which they were charged in connection with ivory worth Sh382,750,000 seized at the port of Mombasa January this year.

Security officers waylaid them outside the court room and arrested Fredrick Mungule and Gideon Nyangau.