Three jailed 40 years as foreigner pays 110m/- fine over govt trophies
A MEMBER of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) and two others yesterday received 40-year jail terms each, while a Chinese national escaped 20-year custodial sentence after paying 110m/- fine, for unlawful possession and dealing in government trophies. Before Resident Magistrate Maira Kasonde at Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam, the TPDF member, Sergeant George Senda, Nia Bakari and Shafii Muhibu, were convicted of unlawful dealing and possession of ten pieces of elephant tusks, valued at 198m/-. The Chinese national, Liu Xiu Feng (40), decided to pay 110m/- fine to escape the 20-year-jail term after being found in possession of two lion teeth, which are government trophies worth 11,029,900/-, without a permit from the Director of Wildlife. In the case involving the TPDF member, the Magistrate ordered each of the convict to go to jail for 20 years on each count without providing an option of fine. He, however, directed the convicts to remain behind bars fo