MANGOCHI-(MaraviPost)-The Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court has handed down a stern sentence to two men, Andrew Kombo,a pastor at Malindi Faith Ministries Church and James Wilson, for illegal possession of a live pangolin.
The court sentenced each of the convicts to six years imprisonment with hard labor.
The incident occurred on July 10, 2025, when Mangochi Police detectives received a tip-off about two men offering a live pangolin for sale at Ntagaluka village.
Acting on the information, police officers and officials from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife apprehended the two men and recovered the live pangolin hidden in a black laptop bag.
The convicts, who pleaded guilty to the charge, were found guilty of violating Section 110(b) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act.
Prosecutor Inspector Amos Mwase argued that the offense is serious in nature, threatening the protection of endangered species and harming efforts to preserve the environment and promote wildlife-based tourism
Both convicts pleaded guilty to the charge and asked for leniency, citing family responsibilities.
In delivering the sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Muhammad Chande emphasized the need to deter others from committing similar offenses.
He then sentenced each of the convicts to six years imprisonment with hard labour.
The sentence serves as a warning to those involved in wildlife trafficking that the law will take a tough stance against such activities.
Both convicts Andrew Kombo and James Wilson hail from Khuyu and Mtiwule Villages , Traditional Authorities (T.As) Mkumba and Makanjira in Likoma and Mangochi respectively.
