By Maxwell Kudzala
MANGOCH-(MANA)- Four Malawian and one from Pakistan are in police custody at Mangochi Police Station awaiting trial after allegedly being found in possession of a live pangolin without license or authorization at one of the residence in Mangochi Township.
The five suspects, Ishmael Japan, 26, Innocent Chiuja 35, Maluda Kaunda 28, Jailosi Khozomba 27, and Ali Muhammad 40 first appeared before a magistrate court on Friday.
Appearing before court, State Prosecutor, Amos Mwase applied for a holding charge for seven days for the state to finalise its investigations saying that the suspects have just been arrested recently.
He also asked the court to allow the state to immediately dispose the live pangolin to the National Parks and Wildlife Department for its safety.
“The state is aware of that the 48 hours rule is to be respected but the suspects have just been arrested this afternoon meaning to say investigations are still underway in respect to that the state is applying for seven days to follow up the issue,” said Mwase.
He added: “The state is also applying for the disposal of the live pangolin using Section 149 of criminal procedure and evidence code that it should be disposed by the National parks and Wildlife department”.
Third Grade Magistrate, Tennyson Kantokoma granted permission to the state on both applications.
“The reason of bringing the suspects in this court was to present the two applications, firstly their adherence to 48 hours rule as the state needs seven days to create room for investigations and secondly is about the disposal of the specimen therefore this court feels it should grant what the state is requesting”, said Kantokoma.
Japan, Kaunda and Chiuja come from Mauwa Village at Paramount Chief Kawinga’s area in Machinga while
Jailosi Khozomba comes from Bigula Village Traditional Authority Mchiguza in Machinga district; while Ali Muhammad comes from Pakistan.
Early February this year, Director of Parks and Wildlife, Brighton Kumchedwa told Malawi News Agency that in 2020 the department registered 33 cases pangolin trafficking, 42 in 2021 and eight cases registered in 2022 as of February 4.
According to Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM), pangolins are hunted for meat, for use in traditional medicine and as fashion accessories, particularly in China and Vietnam.
