The Choma Subordinate Court has sentenced Olis Chikoko, John Kabali, and Innocent Sibalwa to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour for unlawful possession of prescribed trophy.
The trio were charged with unlawful possession of prescribed trophy, namely one Live Pangolin weighing 15 kilograms, contrary to section 130 (1) of the Zambia Wildlife Act No.14 of 2015.
Pangolins are small nocturnal mammals, native to Asia and Africa and are globally protected because they are an important part of healthy ecosystems as they feed on insects and ants, providing the environment and humans with all-natural pest control services.
Facts of the matter are that the threesome were arrested on 8th September, 2022 by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife officers and the Detection Dog Unit in Choma.
When their matter came up in court, they all pleaded guilty. This is contained in a report published by Byta FM.