A 50-year-old woman has been charged in a Mombasa court for being in possession of a python skin worth Ksh.100,000.
Appearing before Mombasa Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo on Tuesday, the accused; Mary Nzala Taura, pleaded guilty to charges of illegal possession of wildlife trophies, contrary to Section 95(d) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013.
According to a statement by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), the court heard that Taura skinned the python on the morning of September 4th, 2023 before concealing it with a clear polythene bag.
“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 further heard that the suspect concealed the python skin in a clear polythene bag contained in a blue eco bag without permission from the KWS Director General.”
During the trial, the Prosecution Counsel Barbara Sombo told the court that the exhibit would be forwarded for analysis by an expert in order to establish its identity.
The court ordered that the suspect be held in custody until September 25th, 2023 when her case will be mentioned.
