Zambia jails Chinese for possessing ivoryBy MICHAEL CHAWE in Lusaka | Wednesday, June 20  2012 at  12:18

A Zambian court has jailed two Chinese nationals for seven and five years respectively with hard labour for illegal possession of ivory trophies, state-owned Zambia Daily Mail newspaper reported Wednesday.

Chen Shaoming, 58, a driver will serve seven years while Guo Wei, 46, an engineer, has been jailed for five years, the paper reported.
It said the sentences of the duo were with effect from June 14, 2012.

“I would be failing in my duties if I do not mete out such punishment on the two convicts. Trading in ivory is a recipe for animal extinction,” Principal Resident Magistrate Wilfred Muma said when passing the judgment.

Necklace beads

Mr Muma said illegal possession of prescribed ivory trophies should not be allowed because it would lead to “promiscuous killing” of elephants, the paper reported.

The magistrate jailed the duo after rejecting their application to replace their pleas of guilty with that of not guilty.

The paper reported that Chen, acting together with other unknown persons, had in possession four ivory bangles, two ivory necklace beads, 48 loose ivory beads of assorted shapes and two ivory hankos, without a certificate of ownership issued by the Zambia Wildlife Authority (Zawa) director general.

Guo, acting together with other unknown persons, had in possession one elephant ivory processed hanko without a certificate of ownership issued by Zawa

The offences were committed in the capital Lusaka early this month.

The duo has a chance to appeal to a higher court.