Ruling on ‘ivory queen,’ co-accused set for next Tuesday

Dar es Salaam. The Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court has set February 19, this year, to make a ruling on an economic sabotage case facing three accused persons including a Chinese national, Yang Feng Glan, 66.

Glan, famously known as the ivory queen, and the co-accused persons are facing the charge of taking part in an illegal ivory business worth Sh13 billion, contrary to the law.

The ruling was supposed to be made Friday on February 15, 2019, but the court’s Resident Magistrate-in-Charge, Huruma Shaidi, who presides over the case, was yet to complete writing the judgement.

Magistrate Shaidi said there were some issues he was finishing to prepare for the ruling, adding that he had allocated Tuesday to make the ruling.

"I will make a ruling on Tuesday next week as there are some issues I’m finishing to write for the judgement," said Magistrate Shaidi.

Earlier, state attorney Wankyo Simon, being assisted by Salim Msemo, claimed in court that Friday on February 15, 2019 the case came up for a ruling and that they were ready for that.

After the explanation, Magistrate Shaidi told the court that he would make a ruling on February 19, 2019 and the accused were taken back into custody.

Besides Glan, the other accused are Salvius Matembo and Philemon Manase, who are both defended by lawyers Nehemia Nkoko and Hassan Kiangio.

The judgment is expected to be made after the court found the accused had the case to answer.

The move comes after the prosecution produced 11 witnesses, who testified against the accused.

In the principal case, the accused are claimed to have committed the offence between January 1, 2000 and May 22, 2014.

In the first count, the accused, during the period, were alleged to have done a business of 706 pieces of ivory weighing 1,889 grammes, valued at Sh5.4 billion without a licence from the director for wildlife.