Man jailed for possessing python skin

A man has been jailed for 10 years after he was found in possession of a python skin in Taita Taveta.

In the first count, Juma Musa Mrarwa was charged with being found in possession of a python skin with a street value of Sh30,000 without a permit from the Kenya Wildlife Service.

He committed the offence on April 20, 2014 at Mazeras area in Voi Sub County together with others not before court.

In the second count Mrarwa was charged that on the same day at Mazeras area within Voi he was found trading a python skin with a street value of Sh30,000 without a permit from KWS. He was also given an option of a Sh2 million fine.

The prosecution was told that his arrest came after KWS officers were informed that the suspect was looking for someone who could buy a python.

A KWS officer who posed as a buyer visited Mrarwa’s home at around 9pm and negotiated the price on which they agreed before he brought the skin.

PLEADED GUILTY

He was convicted on his own plea of guilty before Voi Senior Principal Magistrate Mr Samuel Wahome.

In his judgement, Mr Wahome said the exhibits produced in court should be handed back to a KWS ranger Mr Job Magala for safe custody.

“I have considered the mitigation of the accused and found him guilty of the offence and do hereby fine him Sh1 million or five years imprisonment for each count,” he said.

He however allowed him 14 days to appeal the sentence. The accused was moved to prison after he failed to raise the fine.

This comes barely four months after President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the long waited Wildlife and Conservation Management Bill into law late 2013.

Under the new law, poachers, traffickers and those committing wildlife crimes face more severe penalties that include substantially higher fines, confiscation of property and longer prison terms.

In the past one year there has been a sharp rise in poaching incidents across the conservation areas , including the slaughter of over 50 rhinos since 2013.