A 50-year-old lady has been charged in a Mombasa court with possessing a python skin valued at Ksh.100,000.
On Tuesday, the accused, Mary Nzala Taura, appeared before Mombasa Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo and pled guilty to charges of illegal possession of wildlife trophies, pursuant to Section 95(d) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013.
The court heard that Taura skinned the python on the morning of September 4th, 2023 before concealing it with a clear polythene bag, according to a statement from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
“Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo heard that the suspect committed the offence on 4th September 2023 at around 1140hrs, at Half London area in Mikindani within Changamwe Sub County within Mombasa County,” stated the DPP.
“Odhiambo was also told that the suspect hid the python skin in a clear polythene bag inside a blue eco bag without the permission of the KWS Director General.”
During the trial, Prosecution Counsel Barbara Sombo informed the court that the exhibit will be sent to an expert for investigation in attempt to determine its identification.
