Man Convicted and Fined 1 million Kwacha for Possession of Endangered Species without Permission
The Mkukula senior resident Magistrate Court has on 28th July convicted and sentenced Godwin Chinedu Stanley 43, to pay a fine of 1 million Kwacha after being in possession of endangered species without permission.
Airport police public relations officer, Inspector Sapulain Chitonde Lee said court through State Prosecutor heard that Chinedu was on 19th July,2023 while at Kamuzu International Airport’s forward lounge was arrested for being found possession of a specimen of an endangered species without a licence or valid certificate of ownership contravening Section 86(1) as read with section 110A(b) of the National parks and wildlife Act Cap 66:07 of the Laws of Malawi.
“In passing the sentence Senior Resident Magistrate Montfort Misunje concurred with State Prosecutor saying such cases are sky- rocketing hence sending a stain warning to those would be offenders”, Lee explained.
However, Chinedu mitigated that he was a family man, and was carrying the Sea horse to consume and not for business, arguing it was not his first time to take it to Nigeria hence seeking for court’s leniency in passing the sentence concluding he will not do that again.
SRM Misunje then proceed sentencing him to pay One million (1 million kwacha), in default to serve 15 months’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Meanwhile, the Specimen will be forfeited to Parks & Wildlife Department.
Godwin Chinedu a Nigerian national stays in Mozambique where he does his business and was enroute to Nigeria via Ethiopia.
