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Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
A man from Guruve has appeared in court for allegedly selling 75 pangolin scales valued at US$5 000.
Surance Kofi (43) appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi charged with violating the Parks and Wildlife Management Act.
He was remanded in custody pending bail application.
Prosecutor Mr Takudzwa Jambawu alleged that on October 28, around midday, detectives from the Central Investigations Department (CID), specifically the Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit (MFFU) in Harare, received a tip-off that Kofi was looking for buyers for the pangolin scales.
One of the police officers, phoned Kofi purporting to be a pangolin scales buyer and he agreed to meet at the bus stop by the Harare Exhibition Park.
The court heard that the detectives teamed up and went to the meeting point in two cars one which was being driven by the detective purporting to be the buyer and the other had a backup team.
The car with the detective pretending to be the buyer was in front while the backup team followed at a distance on surveillance.
The purported buyer contacted Kofi to come with the pangolin scales to complete the transaction.
Kofi proceeded to the detective’s vehicle holding a black plastic bag on his right hand and occupied the front passenger seat.
He opened the plastic bag to show the detective the pangolin scales and the detective signalled the backup team who pounced on Kofi and arrested him on the spot.
A Parks and Wildlife Management official was called to the CID MFFU in Harare, where the recovered scales were identified as 75 pieces of pangolin scales, valued at US$5 000.
Online Reporter
Charles Duri