A middle aged man from Keturwo in Barwesa Ward of Baringo North has been arraigned before a Kabarnet court charged with trafficking two elephant tasks worth Sh300,000.
Mathew Kiptis Nyomboi was charged that on November 10, 2020 at 10:45pm at Oinobmoi trading centre in Baringo Central with others not before court were found in possession of two elephant tasks weighing 3 kilogrammes with street market value of Sh 300,000 without a permit from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director General.
The second count stated that on the same date and place Nyomboi was nabbed by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers while transporting two elephant tasks weighing 3 kilogrammes valued at Sh 300,000 without a licence.
He denied all the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate (SPM) Paul Biwot claiming that he was wrongfully accused.
The court was told that the suspect with other accomplices not before the court were transporting the tusks believed to be from the nearby Kapnarok National Game Reserve using a motor bike along the Oinobmoi-Barwessa road on the fateful night they were intercepted by the rangers who had been tracking them following a tip of from local residents.
The prosecution did not object to the suspect’s prayer that the court grants him a reasonable bond terms.
“I am not feeling well at the moment and I am requesting the court to grant me a lesser bond terms,” he said.
The Principal Magistrate in his ruling granted the accused Sh300,000 bond with one surety of similar amount.
Mr Biwot ordered the case to be heard on December 9, this year.
The magistrate at the same time ordered the accused to be supplied with written statements to enable him adequately prepare his defense submissions.
By Benson Kelio/Joshua Kibet
