Fourteen Chinese nationals have appeared before a Ugandan Chief Magistrate’s Court for illegal possession of wildlife species and unlawful presence in the country.
The accused appeared on Monday before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Miriam Oyo Okello in two separate groups.
The first group comprised You Jing Dao, Huang Jian, Mao Xue Ming, Mao Ya Jan, Li Ren Zhe, Li Jia Zhao and Lin Yi Ming. Okello read for the accused the charges with the help of an interpreter, Bruce Tumuhimbise.
Prosecution told court that on March 18, 2020 while at Kireka Kamuli Lubowa Zone in Kira Municipality in Wakiso district, the accused persons were found in illegal possession of 10 pieces of dried elephant penises valued at Shillings 17.1 billion, six tortoises valued at Shillings 22.8 million and half kilogram of pangolin scales valued at Shillings 5.7 million.
Court also heard that the accused persons were found keeping tortoises at their residence as pets without authoritisation from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The second batch comprising Liao Xiao Feng, Chen Xiao Kang, Chen Jun, Yu Wen Jie, Lin Yi Ming, Lin Shao Sheng and Li Jia Zhao was charged with unlawful presence in Uganda.
The accused were picked up on March 17th, 2020 after the expiry of their entry passes on March 3rd, 2020.
The state also argued that the accused persons had started running private business by forming food processing and scrap dealing firms without valid work permits, certificate of permanent residence or special passes.
The suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges and were sent back to Kitalya Government Prisons until May 21st, 2020 as investigations continue.
The suspects are part of 37 Chinese nationals who were remanded on March 27 on charges of illegal possession of hundreds of Ugandan simcards among others.
However, State Prosecutors, Annet Tuheisomwe and Ivan Kyazze had to amend the charge sheet to introduce new charges against the 14 suspects.
Contributed by Ahmed Wetaka, Kampala-Uganda
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