dyton mupawaenda
Zvikomborero Parafini
An illegal ivory dealer, who was busted after a tip off was made to police, was yesterday remanded in custody after his initial appearance in court.
Daniel Mangezi of Glen View, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo.
Mangezi was advised to approach the High Court for bail considerations as he is facing a third schedule offence. The court heard that on April 14, detectives from CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit Harare received information that Mangezi was in possession of ivory in Glen View 3, Harare and was looking for potential buyers.
Acting on the tip off, one of the police officers, Detective Sergeant Kemusi managed to get Mangezi’s phone number and phoned him purporting to be an ivory buyer.
Mangezi agreed to meet the purported buyer at Glen View 3 Shopping Centre.
The detectives proceeded to the meeting place in two vehicles.
One vehicle with the back up team and the other being driven by the purported buyer.
The purported buyer went on the lead and parked his vehicle at Glen View 3 Shopping centre while the backup team followed at a distance on surveillance and parked a few metres away from the purported buyers vehicle.
The purported buyer invited Mangezi to his vehicle.
When Mangezi got to the car, he didn’t have anything in his possession and told the buyer that he had hidden the ivory at a distance.
He went to collect it and appeared holding a black bag and entered the purported buyer’s vehicle in full view of the back up team.
The purported buyer signaled to the back up team which pounced on Mangezi. The detectives recovered two pieces of raw unmarked ivory placed on top of a small white sack, black plastic and a black bag on Mangezi’s lap.
He was asked to produce a licence authorising him to possess the ivory and he failed leading to his arrest.
The recovered ivory weighed three kilograms and has a street value of US$510.
Mangezi was ordered to return to court on April 30.
Takudzwa Jambawo appeared for the State.
derick.khumalo