‘Ivory Queen’ applies for bail

Dar es Salaam. The defence in the ivory smuggling case facing a Chinese woman dubbed “The Ivory Queen” Yang Feng Glan and two Tanzanians has filed an application for bail at the High Court.

The advocate for the accused, Mr Nehemia Nkoko, yesterday informed resident magistrate Respicius Mwijage of the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court that they filed the application at the High Court last week.

The defence lawyer reached the decision after the Kisutu court rejected their application for bail due to lack of jurisdiction.

The case was mentioned at the court yesterday. Prosecution led by State Attorney Estezia Martin told the court that investigation was still going on.

Magistrate Mwijage adjourned the case to November 23. 

Ms Yang Feng and her co-accused Salvius Matembo and Manase Philemon were arraigned on October 7, this year, charged with several counts including smuggling ivory worth Sh5.4 billion between January 1, 2000 and May 22, 2014.

They allegedly engaged in smuggling and trading in 706 elephant tusks weighing 1,889 kilogrammes worth Sh5.4 billion without a license from the director of Wildlife.

The three are also charged with involvement in organised crime. They are alleged to have illegally collected, transported and sold the ivory for profit without a permit from the director of Wildlife. Mr Philemon is also charged with escaping from lawful custody.

It was alleged that on May 21, 2014 at Sinza Palestina in Kinondoni District, the accused escaped from police after he was detained for illegally possessing government trophies.