PH
Five men of Ethiopia nationalities suspected to be poachers have been released on bond terms by a Marsabit court.
They were arraigned before Resident Magistrate Tom Wafula for being in possession of four pieces of elephant tusks valued at KES.1.2 million.
The accused were also charged with being unlawfully in the country as they had no valid travel documents.
Dabaso Saro Dulacha, Dub Guyo Chito, Bonaya Guyo Bura, Boru Wako Sakala and Golicha Wako Chachu however pleaded not guilty to both charges through an interpreter.
The court released them on a bond of KES.3 million each with one surety of similar amount or cash bail of an equal amount.
The accused allegedly committed the offences on May 12, this year at Marsabit town’s Gof Hotel in Marsabit Central sub-county where they were found with 12 kilograms of contraband ivory.
The second accused person, Dub Guyo Chito, faced a separate count of being found in possession of an AK47 firearm illegally.
The prosecution said the firearm was reasonably presumed to have been used to commit crime given the circumstances in which it was found.
The second accused was also charged with being in possession of eleven rounds of ammunition without a firearm certificate.
The case was slated to be mentioned on May 31 with a hearing of June 16, this year
