Two people who had been convicted and sentenced for poaching offences received some reprieve after a High Court in Narok reduced their sentence to a fine of Sh220, 000 each or in default serve a 15- month jail term each.
The appellants Metian Ole-Rakatian and Moge Ole-Malit had appealed after Narok of Sh1million each or an alternative jail term of five years in default.
Both appellants were charged that on January 24, 2016 at lshuruani area in Narok south sub-county, they were jointly found in possession of government trophy without a permit namely two pieces of elephant tasks weighing two kilogrammes with a street value of Sh2, 000, 000.
They further faced two alternative charges of dealing in government trophy and keeping wildlife trophy contrary to Wildlife Conservation and Management Act.
In meting out the new sentence, the judge said that he found the offence to be very serious and a threat to wildlife and tourism in the country.
In his judgment, Justice Justus Bwonwong`a said he took into account the fact that the appellants were first offenders and had been in court since November 28, 2016 while citing that the magistrate had also considered their mitigation before sentencing them.
The first appellant (Ole-Rakatian) had filed an appeal on the grounds that the trial faulted by imposing a harsh sentence while failing to consider that he had been in custody throughout the trial period, he was a first offender, epileptic and has both a sick mother and three children to whom he was the sole provider.
The second appellant (Ole Malit) also filed an appeal on the grounds that he was the sole provider of his family, was remorseful and that the trial faulted by imposing a harsh sentence while failing to consider that he had been in custody throughout the trial period.
By Mabel Keya-Shikuku and Kevin Bogita
