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Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
A 40-year-old gardener from Marondera, Ruwen Silion, has been sentenced to an effective nine-year prison term for illegally selling six raw pieces of ivory valued at US$1 773.
Harare magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo convicted Silion after a full trial.
Prosecutor Ms Nomsa Kangara presented evidence showing that on April 19, Silion was found in possession of raw, unmarked ivory intended for sale to potential buyers in Avondale, Harare.
Detectives from the CID Minerals, Fauna and Flora Unit received a tip-off regarding Silion’s activities. They conducted an undercover operation, posing as buyers, and arranged to meet him at the corner of Alpes Road and Churchill Road in Harare.
On the day of the meeting, at approximately 10am, Silion arrived with a black plastic bag he retrieved from nearby bushes. He entered the detective’s vehicle and sat at the back passenger seat.
Upon searching the bag, detectives discovered six pieces of ivory wrapped in white and brown sacks.
Silion was unable to produce a permit authorising him to possess the ivory, which led to his arrest. The recovered ivory weighed 10.43kg.
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