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30 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR MONKEY POACHING

Update from Tommy Mhango POACHER GIVEN A 30 MONTHS PRISON TERM FOR KILLING TWO MONKEYS IN NYIKA NATIONAL PARK Chief Resident Magistrate, Texious Masoamphambe, on 22nd May, 2017 convicted and sentenced Jailosi Simkonde, aged 49 years, from Mthuka Village, T/A Wasambo, Karonga District  to 30 months in prison for entry into Nyika National Park, contrary […]

Update from Tommy Mhango

POACHER GIVEN A 30 MONTHS PRISON TERM FOR KILLING TWO MONKEYS IN NYIKA NATIONAL PARK

Chief Resident Magistrate, Texious Masoamphambe, on 22nd May, 2017 convicted and sentenced Jailosi Simkonde, aged 49 years, from Mthuka Village, T/A Wasambo, Karonga District  to 30 months in prison for entry into Nyika National Park, contrary to Section 32 (1) of National Parks and Wildlife Act; 30 months in prison with hard labour for conveying 37 wire snares and a knife in Nyika National Park, contrary to Section 33 (1) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act; and 30 months in prison with hard labour for killing two monkeys in Nyika National Park, contrary to Section 35 (a) read with Section 110 (a) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act. All the three sentences are to run concurrently, that is, the convict will only serve 30 months in prison for the three counts.

Police Prosecutor, Senior Superintendent Magweje told the court that Jailosi Simkonde illegally entered Nyika National Park on 27th May, 2017 armed with 37 wire snares and a knife, and managed to kill two monkeys with the weapons before park law enforcement staff spotted and arrested him. He lamented that loss of wild animals due to poaching was making Nyika National Park a less popular tourist destination, and this was resulting in loss of forex for the country. He therefore pleaded with the court to impose a deterrent penalty on Jailos Simkonde to deter others from killing wild animals in the beautiful Nyika National Park.  

After sentencing the convict, the CRM sensitized the court audience that it is a serious crime to enter a protected area; it is a serious crime to convey weapons in a protected area; and it is a serious offence to hunt or kill wild animals in a protected area. He appealed to the general public to report about people who commit crimes to police immediately so that the can be arrested and dealt with in accordance with the relevant laws. He also warned that failure to report a crime is a serious offence.