Zim Elephant Tusk Dealer Pleads Guilty

Othusitse Khuwa | Monday March 20, 2017 17:17

 

Mujaji was found in possession of the pieces of the tusk on January 24 at Nzano Shopping Mall. In addition, Mujaji pleaded guilty to entering Botswana through an ungazetted point of entry, imitating a licence disc and faking a copy of a Professional Driving Goods Permit (PRDP) for himself with intent to defraud while he knew that to be false.

According to the agreed facts of the offences, the police received information that on January 24, Mujaji and others not before Court were at Nzano and were driving a motor vehicle registered B835AXI, and were suspected of being in possession of elephant tusks.

Acting on the information, the facts stated, the police followed and located the accused.

“They searched the accused and found him in possession of 19 fragments of elephant tusks. The tusks were sent to the forensic laboratory for analysis and testing. The results showed that indeed the fragments were elephant tusks which weighed 1,0148 kg,” the agreed facts read. After Mujaji was arrested in connection with illegal possession of pieces of elephant tusks, the police also discovered that he had made a copy of a licence disc for his car, which he displayed on the car’s windscreen, stated the facts. “Investigations revealed that Mujaji with intent to defraud, imitated a licence disc of a Toyota Corolla registered B835AXI something he knew to be false. He then displayed the same false document on the windscreen of his Toyota with intent to deceive,” according to the facts. Whilst being arrested for committing other offences, the facts stated, the police further discovered that Mujaji had made himself a copy of a PRDP.

“Investigations revealed that the accused with intent to defraud, imitated a copy of the said PRDP, something he knew to be false…”

After reading the facts to Mujaji, Magistrate Kapeko said he was satisfied that his pleas of guilty in all the counts were unequivocal and he therefore convicted Mujaji as charged.

Prosecutor Archie Makgoa then applied for the accused to be further remanded in custody and be fingerprinted to check if he has previous offences or not. Kapeko consented to Mujaji’s further incarceration and be fingerprinting to check if he has previous offences.

He is due in court on March 28.