Zim wildlife boss fired after $3m rhino horn goes missing: Report

News24 Correspondent | News24 06:07 15/05/2017

Harare - The head of Zimbabwe's wildlife authority has been fired following the disappearance of rhino horns worth $3 million two years ago, it was reported on Sunday.

Edson Chidziya was suspended last year on full pay after he was accused of failing to alert the police when it was discovered that the horns were missing in 2015.

Now the Sunday Mail is reporting that Chidziya has been fired. Said the paper: "Mr Chidziya was fired for maladministration and abuse of office."

A report from the board of Zimbabwe's Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) quoted by the Sunday Mail said that Chidziya "failed to put in place security and control measures to prevent pilferage of rhino horns".

The authority has a stash of more than 4 000 confiscated rhino horns at its headquarters. Some of them have been in the authority's custody since 1989, according to official media. There are periodic calls for Zimbabwe to be allowed to sell off its horn. That move is opposed by those who feel it would fuel the trade in the horn, which is used in traditional Asian medicine. 

Zimbabwe has around 800 black and white rhinos in total. They are in danger from poachers, as they are throughout the southern African region.

Police spokesperson Charity Charamba told the paper she didn't know anything about the investigations into Chidziya.

Zimparks is now looking for a new director general, according to a job advert placed separately in the Sunday Mail.

The recruitment agency acting on behalf of Zimparks says the candidate must be 40 years or older and must have a Masters in conservation or ecology, an MBA and possibly a PhD.

Zim Parks officials accused of stealing rhino horns granted bail

4 days ago / Eyewitness News

HARARE - Four parks officials in Zimbabwe have appeared in court over the theft of 56 rhino horns reported to be worth up to $3 million.

The horns were among thousands kept under tight security at Zimbabwe’s national parks headquarters in Harare.

The state-run Herald is reporting that former parks director-general Edson Chidziya is being charged with criminal abuse of office.

Three other parks officials, including an audit manager, have been arrested.

They appeared in court on Tuesday and are all out on bail of $200.

State prosecutors allege that sometime between 2012 and 2015 Chidziya allowed a breach of security at the strong-room where thousands of rhino horns were kept.

Chidziya was boss of Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority when Cecil the Lion story broke in 2015 and he’s the official who imposed a temporary ban on trophy hunting around Hwange National Park in the wake of that killing.

(Edited by Zamangwane Shange)

Tanzania freezes assets of anti-graft official over suspected corruption

By Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala | DAR ES SALAAM

Tanzania's anti-graft watchdog said on Thursday it had frozen the assets of its chief accountant and planned to charge him with corruption, part of an aggressive anti-graft drive in which thousands of officials have already lost their jobs.

President John Magufuli, in office since November 2015, has vowed to root out the "cancer" of high-level corruption that has long bedeviled economic growth in the east African nation.

The state-run Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) said it had secured a magistrate's order freezing the assets of Godfrey Gugai, its chief accountant. They include six vehicles and 40 apartments, houses and prime plots in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam and other major urban centers. 

"The Resident Magistrate's Court of Dar es Salaam region at Kisutu has issued freezing orders against properties of one Godfrey Gugai, who is about to be charged with corruption offences and other related offences," the PCCB said in a public notice.Reuters was unable to contact Gugai and his ex-colleagues said he was not reachable. It was not immediately clear whether he was already in detention but the PCCB said he would be arraigned at a Dar es Salaam court "over the next few days".

Under Tanzania's anti-graft law, public officials convicted of possession of unexplained wealth face a sentence of up to seven years in jail, a fine or both.Businesses have long said corruption and government inefficiency are major obstacles to investing in Tanzania, which ranked 116 out of 176 countries in Transparency International's 2016 corruption index, where No. 1 is deemed least corrupt.Magufuli has dismissed several senior public officials, including the head of the government's anti-graft body, the tax chief, a senior railway official and the head of the port authority.Nicknamed "the Bulldozer" for his ability to push through major projects, Magufuli in April ordered the immediate dismissal of more than 9,900 civil servants after a nationwide verification of academic credentials uncovered workers with forged school and college certificates.The crackdown on academic fraud came after another purge launched in March 2016 discovered more than 19,700 "ghost workers" on the country's public sector payroll.  

(Reporting by Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala; Editing by George Obulutsa and Gareth Jones)

DEC arrest Teacher for money laundering activities involving over K 200 000

The Drug Enforcement Commission through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit (AMLIU) in Central Province has arrested a Teacher of Ndola for money laundering activities involving over K200 thousand.

DEC Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo said Jane Katongo, 40, a Teacher of House No. 25 Chavuma Avenue in Kansenshi, Ndola, has been arrested for theft by servant and money laundering contrary to the laws of Zambia.

She said particulars of the offence are that Jane Katongo, a Teacher at a named school in Ndola jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown on dates unknown but between 1st February, 2010 and 28th February, 2017 did steal K282, 779.48 in salaries, property of the Republic of Zambia.

Katongo further noted it is alleged that Jane Katongo as widow and administrator to the estate of her late husband, Justine Zimba, who was also a teacher in the Ministry of General Education and died in 2009 during the process of being transferred from Chama District to Chibombo District.

DEC Public Relations Officer said despite Jane Katongo having full knowledge of this information, she instead concealed the death of her husband from the authorities and continued to draw the deceased’s salary for seven (07) years which was being credited to his account in Chibombo District where he never reported due to his untimely death.

She said the suspect is currently on Police bond and will appear in court soon and in a separate incidence, the Commission in Lusaka has arrested and jointly charged three (03) persons for money laundering activities involving over K2 million.

Katongo said those arrested and jointly charged include **ens Muduka Tembo, 43, of Plot No. 9812/557C Nyumba Yanga in Lusaka, Angela Ing’utu Nyambe, 32, of the same abode and Raymond Ndeule Muzumala, 43, of Plot No. 41 Katapa Street in Libala Stage 1 for obtaining goods (money) by false pretenses and money laundering contrary to the laws of Zambia.

She further noted that particulars of the offence are that **ens Muduka Tembo whilst acting together with Raymond Ndeuke Muzumala, Angela Ing’utu Nyambe and other persons unknown, on dates unknown but between 1st January, 2015 and 31st December, 2016 in their capacities as Manager and Directors of Spiroflex Investment Limited did obtain goods amounting to K2, 242, 929.59 from Kalumbila Minerals Limited by purporting that they had offered transportation services to Kalumbila Minerals Limited when in fact not.

Katongo further explained that they further engaged in money laundering activities by using the said money to acquire properties which have since been seized as proceeds of crime and the suspects have been released on Police bond awaiting court proceedings.

“We have arrested a Teacher of Ndola for money laundering activities involving over K200 thousand and in Lusaka we have arrested and jointly charged three (03) persons for money laundering activities involving over K2 million” Katongo said

‘Cashgate’ fugitive Limumba Karim should be prosecuted in absentia – DPP

May 10, 2017 Wanga Gwede- Nyasa Times

 Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mary Kachale has asked the High Court in Lilongwe that   businessman Limumba Karim who is on a the run in  the K2.4 billion money laundering case and is suspected to be  hiding in South Africa should  be prosecuted in his absence .

Lumumba escaped the country when he was expected to  plead to  counts of money laundering in which former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo, 18 civil servants and contractors are accused of defrauding government of K2.4 billion through theft and money laundering.

Lawyer Wapona Kita claimed Karim went to South Africa for medical treatment. But Kita has since stopped representing Karim.

Top prosecutor Kachale who asked the court to revoke Karim’s bail and issue arrest warrant has made an application to continue with the case against Karim.

“If the court finds him guilty, he should be convicted and sentenced even in his abscence,” said Kachale.

She argued that there is a provision in Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code which gives the powers to the court to do so.

Judge Esmie Chombo revoked Karim bail and ordered an arrest warrant be issued against him.

Karim is facing charges alongside Mphwiyo and others, including civil servants such as former Accountant General David Kandoje, Auzius Kazombo Mwale, Clemence Mmadzi and Roosevelt Ndovi. The list of suspects also includes contractors.

Others are George Banda, Michael Mphatso, Samuel Mzanda and convict Maxwell Namata who are facing charges of fraud, negligence by public office, money laundering, theft by public servant, theft by servant and conspiracy to defraud government funds amounting to K2 446 817 450.49.

Also charged is an expert in information technology (IT) Steve Likhunya Phiri. Others are Stafford Mpoola, Andrew Patrick Chilalika, Fatch Chungano, Cecilia Mervis Ng’ambi, Gerald Magaleta Phiri and Ndao

- See more at: https://www.nyasatimes.com/cashgate-fugitive-limumba-karim-prosecuted-absentia-dpp/#sthash.z1adpn2r.dpuf

1431 persons arrested for drug related offences in Zambia this quarter-DEC

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has in the first quarter of 2017 arrested a total of 1,431 persons for drug related offences in Zambia.

In a statement made available to the media today, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo said a year-on-year quarterly analysis shows that the total arrests increased by 6.87 per cent from 1,339 in the first quarter of 2016 to 1,431 in the first quarter of 2017.

She further noted that out of the total number of persons arrested 30 were foreign nationals while 1,401 were Zambians and out of the total number of persons arrested 95 were female comprising 6.6 per cent of the total arrests while 1,336, were male composing 93.4 per cent.

Katongo added that 206 juveniles were arrested for illicit drug offences countrywide, representing 4.75 per cent of the total arrests

For more information, here is the entire statement below:

PRESS STATEMENT

Lusaka, Friday 5th May 2017-The Drug Enforcement Commission in the first quarter of 2017 arrested a total of 1,431 persons for drug related offences countrywide.

A year-on-year quarterly analysis shows that the total arrests increased by 6.87 per cent from 1,339 in the first quarter of 2016 to 1,431 in the first quarter of 2017. Further, of the total number of persons arrested 30 were foreign nationals while 1,401 were Zambians.

Out of the total number of persons arrested 95 were female comprising 6.6 per cent of the total arrests while 1,336, were male composing 93.4 per cent. Further, 206 juveniles were arrested for illicit drug offences countrywide, representing 4.75 per cent of the total arrests.

On the other hand, foreign nationals constituted 2.1 per cent of the total arrested in the first quarter of 2017.

Of the 1, 431 persons arrested, 148 persons have been convicted for various drug related offences while the rest of the cases are still pending in the courts of law.

During the period under review, the Commission seized 30 tonnes of cannabis plants, herb and seeds. Other drugs seized include cocaine, heroin, diazepam, ephedrine, lidocaine, morphine and diphenhydramine.

Luapula Province recorded the largest quantity of cannabis plants seized totalling 8.2 tonnes followed by Southern Province with 4.6 tonnes, North Western Province recorded 4.2 tonnes and the least was Eastern Province with 52kg. However, Eastern Province recorded the largest quantity of cannabis herb seized totalling 2 tonnes and thus accounting for 38.9 per cent share of the total cannabis herb seized countrywide during the first quarter of 2017.

Counterfeit Notes

A review of statistics involving cases of counterfeit currency indicate that ZMW55, 600.00 was seized in the first quarter of 2017 compared to a total of ZMW35, 298.00 seized in the first quarter of 2016, representing a percentage increase of 57.52 per cent while a total of US$130,100.00 United States Dollar counterfeit notes was seized in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the US$52,001.00 United States Dollar seized in the first quarter of 2016, representing a percentage increase of 150.19 per cent.

Drug Demand Reduction

The Commission through various public awareness activities on the dangers of drug trafficking and abuse in the various institutions of learning, communities and workplaces carried out a total of six hundred and sixty six (666) awareness activities during the first quarter of 2017 representing a 30.84 per cent increase from the 509 awareness activities in the first quarter of 2016.

The commission through its Education and Counselling Department sensitised one hundred and eighteen thousand seven hundred and fifty five (118,755) persons countrywide during the first quarter of 2017.

In its counselling and rehabilitation programme, the Department attended to one hundred and sixty one (161) clients of which nine (9) were female and the rest one hundred and fifty two (152) were male. The age range of the clients was from 13 to 48 years with their common drugs of abuse being cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, and heroin.

Money Laundering

The Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit (AMLIU) of the DEC in the first quarter of 2017 received a total of one hundred and eighteen (118) reports of suspected money laundering activities signifying a 257.58 percentage increase compared to the first quarter of 2016 which recorded a total of 33 reports.

During the period under review, the Unit arrested a total of 46 persons for various money laundering cases compared to a total of 10 persons arrested in the first quarter of 2016, representing a percentage increase of 360 per cent.

The Unit, however, recorded a 28.57 per cent quarterly decrease in the number of convictions secured from seven (07) recorded in the first quarter of 2016 to five (05) in the first quarter of 2017.

In its on-going sensitisation programme to raise awareness on money laundering activities, the Unit reached out to four hundred and thirty eight (438) people from various sectors of society.

Conclusion

The Commission would like to thank its cooperating partners, other law enforcement agencies, members of the public and the media for the support given during the period under review and hope that such trust and collaboration shown will continue in the coming months.

Theresa Katongo

Public Relations Officer

Drug Enforcement Commission

BAI case: four interim charges against Brian Burns

Brian can finally smile as he leaves the Rose-Hill yard. The charges against him were struck off.

Brian Burns is also able to poke a sigh of relief. The four charges have been struck down against son-in-law Dawood Rawat on Thursday, April 27, in the Rose-Hill court and two days after the charges against Laina Rawat, Adeela Rawat and Claudio Feistritzer.

Brian Burns was answering charges of fraudulent use of company's property, conspiracy, money laundering and false statement. The former CEO of Iframac was arrested for the first time on 25 May 2015 in the wake of the BAI case. On 8 August 2015, he again had to face justice for further interim charges against him.

On Thursday, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), represented by Mohana Naidoo, once again requested a reference in this case to the possession of new documents. But this motion was opposed by Shailesh Seebaruth, a lawyer for Glover Chambers, and a representative of Brian Burns, who argued that "each time there is a decision to make a decision on the provisional charges."

The magistrate Sophie Chui Yew Cheong was forced in her judgment to order the removal of the charges against Laina Rawat's husband. She did not fail to scratch the floor at the same time.

On Tuesday, April 25, the interim charges against Laina and Adeela Rawat and Claudio Feistritzer were struck off by magistrate Meenakshi Bhogun and the ban on leaving the country.

Translated from French using Google Translate

Affaire BAI : les quatre charges provisoires rayées contre Brian Burns

Brian peut enfin sourire à sa sortie de la cour de Rose-Hill. Les charges pesant sur lui ont été rayées.

Brian Burns peut, lui aussi, pousser un ouf de soulagement.Les quatre charges retenues ont été rayées contre le gendre Dawood Rawat, ce jeudi 27 avril, en cour de Rose-Hill et ce deux jours après la radiation des charges contre Laina Rawat, Adeela Rawat et Claudio Feistritzer.

Brian Burns répondait à des charges de Fraudulent use of company's property, Conspiracy, Money Laundering et False statement. L’ancien CEO d’Iframac, avait été arrêté, pour la première fois, le 25 mai 2015 dans le sillage de l’éclatement de l’affaire BAI. Il devait, à nouveau, faire face à la justice le 8 août 2015 pour de nouvelles charges provisoires contre lui.

Ce jeudi, le bureau du Directeur des poursuites publiques (DPP), représenté par Me Mohana Naidoo, a une fois de plus demandé un renvoi dans cette affaire évoquant être en possession de nouveaux documents. Mais cette motion a été objectée par Me Shailesh Seebaruth, avocat de Glover Chambers et représentant de Brian Burns soutenant «each time there will be a new doc and there was a decision to either lodge a main case or struck out the provisional charges.»

La magistrate Sophie Chui Yew Cheong devait dans la foulée, dans son jugement, ordonner la radiation des charges contre le mari de Laina Rawat. Elle n’a pas manqué d’égratigner le parquet par la même occasion.

Mardi 25 avril, les charges provisoires qui pesaient sur Laina et Adeela Rawat ainsi que Claudio Feistritzer ont été rayées par la magistrate Meenakshi Bhogun ainsi que l’interdiction de quitter le pays.

Read More: https://www.lexpress.mu/article/305662/audio-affaire-bai-quatre-charges-provisoires-rayees-contre-brian-burns

From Congo child soldier to award-winning wildlife ranger – a life in danger

Forced into the militia as a child in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rodrigue Katembo has now been awarded a Goldman prize for risking his life fighting to protect his country’s wildlife.

Damian Carrington, environment editor, Monday 24 April 2017 05.01 BST

As an enforced child soldier, Rodrigue Katembo saw his little brother die and had to carry the news to his mother. Now 41, he remains on the frontline – but today he protects the extraordinary wildlife in the national parks of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from armed militias.

It is exceptionally dangerous work: 160 park rangers have been killed protecting Virunga national park in the last 15 years, outnumbered 10 to one by militias and poachers. Around the world, about 1,000 rangers have died in the line of duty over the last decade. But Katembo, who is awarded the prestigious Goldman environmental prize on Monday, is resolute, despite the attacks he has endured and the risks he continues to run.

 “It is really worth it to make this sacrifice,” he told the Guardian. “I know it is among the most dangerous work in DRC, but I am working for the welfare of future generations.” His goal is to protect the rainforests and savannahs of Congo’s parks, and the endangered mountain gorillas, lions and elephants they contain, and build a sustainable way of life for the many thousands of people living there.

Katembo has made heavy personal sacrifices in the fight against the corruption that helps fuel the destruction. In 2013, just days after stopping an oil-related development, he was arrested. “I was tortured and put in jail for 17 days,” he said, adding that he also suffered mock executions. “That was a really difficult time for me and my family as we didn’t know if I was going to die in prison or not.”

Katembo survived and in 2015 the company pursuing oil in Virunga, a Unesco world heritage site, abandoned its plans. However, continuing death threats from poachers, armed rebels and illegal miners led to his transfer to Upemba national park, though even there he has to live apart from his family for their safety.

The source of Katembo’s courage and determination began with his love of the natural world: “Since I was very young, I really wanted to become part of the wildlife authority of Congo.”

The best moments in his dangerous job are in the bush, he says: “Many times as a chief warden, you take your rangers on patrol. You look at tracks and follow the wildlife, but every time you do that you are amazed at the beauty of the wildlife of Congo. Every time you see new things and make new discoveries – it’s marvellous.”

Katembo lists his successes with pride: “We saw the population of hippos in Virunga go from 500 to 1,700 in three to four years – that was a really important moment for me. In Upemba in 2015, we only had 54 zebra, we now have 72. We had no elephants inside the park, but now we have 68.”

Katembo’s early love of wildlife and desire to serve his war-torn country was derailed at the age of 14. “One of the armed groups tricked me and said they were going to bring me to university,” he says. “In the end, I started to be a child soldier. Many of the youths that tried to run away were killed. But I stayed there for two years.”

“I was then able to go home during some holidays,” Katembo says. “I had to tell my mother that my younger brother had been killed in front of my eyes. My mother really fought to try to stop me having to return and I was able to escape. My mother then did everything she could to pay for my schooling and thanks to her I was able to study.”

Katembo joined the DRC wildlife authority in 2003, which funded further study, and he has risen fast. He says he takes strength from the teams he works with but also from the responsibility he bears: “It is really important they trust me and see in me someone whose leadership is bringing them support and who is giving an example.”

His work in Upemba is daunting. The park covers 1.75m hectares and contains spectacular wildlife, including leopards and the Katanga impala, found only there. But there are also gold, emeralds and coltan – a highly valuable ore used in electronics - which draws illegal mining. Katembo has already closed down eight coltan mines and removed 1,400 small-scale miners.

But the murderous Katanga Mai Mai militia have infiltrated the park, making the need for more resources even more urgent. Katembo has just 160 rangers, far short of the 400 needed, and a single patrol truck.

Nonetheless, Katembo is not ready to back down from the fight. “It is not the time to do something else. When we see how many [groups] are trying to destroy our protected areas, we cannot stop now. If I left, that would feel like a betrayal to the protections the wildlife and national parks deserve. I also need to ensure a new generation of young Congolese are there to take up the baton.”

 Read More: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/24/from-congo-child-soldier-to-award-winning-wildlife-ranger-a-life-in-danger

Mauritius’ Record Drug Seizure: six arrests after Navind Kistnah

Translated from French by Google Translate

Eight days after the arrest of Navind Kistnah, the investigation has reached its cruising speed. Also known as Kunal, the 34-year-old customs broker is a suspect in importing compressors containing heroin worth over Rs 2 billion. The Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) and the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) have made three arrests. The latter also charged the owner of Gloria Fast Food, Shahebzada Azaree, said Dade, before the court of Port-Louis on Friday, April 21 under a provisional charge of money laundering after three days of interrogation.

At the headquarters of the ADSU in the Central Barracks, it is in the utmost discretion that the men from the deputy to the police chief Choolun Bhojoo carry out the investigation since Navind Kistnah was repatriated from Mozambique and stopped at his descent Flights to Mauritius last Saturday. The thirty-year-old, who has not given any evidence yet, was interrogated at length for 36 hours during which he was placed in solitary confinement after his arrest. During this exercise, he made several revelations that put the ADSU men on several tracks. These resulted in three arrests on Wednesday.

Imtieyaz Baccus, a clandestine bookmaker living in Coromandel and close to Navind Kistnah, was arrested on a provisional charge of importing heroin. He is not a stranger to the ADSU for being arrested and convicted for importing heroin. He knows Navind Kistnah who bet on races at home. Moreover, a discord would have settled between them when it would have swindled a stake of Rs 300,000 of Navind Kistnah. "Mo pa konn nanien dan sa zafer la", he told the ADSU police when he was charged with importing drugs against him. Imtieyaz Baccus retained the services of Me Assad Peeroo.

The same day, Abbrar Bheekhun and his father Rassool Bheekhun, respectively resident in Pailles and Cassis, were arrested in the wake of this importation of heroin. Abbrar Bheekhun, who is a peddler, was formerly engaged in a taxiboat in the harbor as his father was before his retirement. They were carrying passengers coming for cruises. The three suspects who were brought before the Port Louis court are still in custody.

On the ICAC headquarters side in Moka, a series of attachment orders and disclosure orders are expected to be filed in the Supreme Court against the three suspects arrested for money laundering on Friday and their relatives. The men of Navin Beekharry, the director general of ICAC, are busy for this to happen next week.

Shahebzada Azaree, who has been summoned to the anti-corruption brigade since Wednesday, was charged with money laundering on Friday under the Financial Intelligence Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2002. He was released against a bond of Rs 50,000 and an Acknowledgment Of Debt of Rs 500,000. After the record seizure of drugs, the ICAC became interested in this man for his links with Navind Kistnah in the equine and casinos. Moreover, on his provisional charge of money laundering, he is accused of betting Rs 225,000 to the Grand casino of Domaine Les Pailles on August 31, 2016. This money is suspected to come from illegal activities, even drug trafficking.

Unconvincing Explanations

Explanations from the accountant of Shahebzada Azaree did not convince the investigators about the wealth of this businessman. Shahebzada Azaree intrigues with her movable and immovable property, income from her business, lifestyle, cars and her proximity to the horse industry, even to patronize races. His casino losses far outweigh his winnings. His generosity to pay airfares for friends, including Navind Kistnah, and to help his relatives to travel to Wembley in England in 2016, tickles.

Just after Navind Kistnah left for Johannesburg, two directors of Brilliant Resources Consulting Co Ltd, Sibi Thomas and Gianchand Dewdanee, were arrested for importing heroin. It was this company that was responsible for importing compressors packed with heroin. These two suspects are still in detention. They were again brought before the Port Louis court yesterday. Gianchand Dewdanee, who did not feel well, was taken to the cardiac unit at the Northern Hospital where he was under police surveillance.

The ADSU suspects that the order for the seizure of heroin would have been taken from the central prison and that one of the three major links in drug trafficking, Peroomal Veeren, would be involved. It is this drug chain that two relatives of Peroomal Veeren have allegedly used for their alleged money laundering. Two women, Marie Christelle Isabelle Bibi and Marie Annette Gooljaury, who are suspected of being involved, were arrested and released on bail yesterday. In addition, a resident of Pailles was summoned and interrogated by ICAC yesterday but then released.

Unexplained fortune

Christelle Bibi, a resident of Eau-Coulée and owner of the Christelle Collection store in Curepipe, has a turnover of Rs 1.6 million. His shop is open only once a week. The ICAC suspects that there is a case of money laundering from the sale of drugs. Aged 27, she regularly visits the convicted Veeren in prison, every fortnight.

Annette Gooljaury, 54, resides in Floréal. It is in Mahébourg, where she runs a snack, that she was arrested by the men of the Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday. She was discovered in possession of a sum of Rs 63,000. Her son, who does not work, is driving a Honda SUV. They rent at least three vehicles for Rs 18,000 per month for a vehicle.

The fifty-year-old gave the ICAC investigators a hard time until very late on Thursday night. She said she did not remember her house. Finally, when the police were able to get home, they discovered 16 gold bracelets, one of which is wider than a wooden ruler, a gold piece worth Rs 90,000, laptops, 13 cell phones, SIM cards, vouchers worth Rs 3.5 million in the Flic-en-Flac region. His lifestyle, says an ICAC investigator, clearly demonstrates that this is inexplicable. After an interrogation on Thursday, the two women were allowed to return home. On Friday they were arrested and brought before the Port Louis court.

Malawi: New Law to Help Combat Wildlife Crimes - Judge Twea

By Sellah Singini - Mana

Justice Edward Twea has said the new law of National Parks and Wildlife will help combat wildlife crimes.

Speaking in an interview with the Malawi News Agency on the sidelines of a High Court Judges Symposium in Mangochi, he said the new law stipulates very stiff punishments which have just been amended in January this year.

"This workshop is significant in the sense that it will help magistrates and judges to appreciate the implications of the new law of National Parks and Wildlife and that it works in the best interest of parliament and the economy of this country," Twea said.

"When dealing with cases of wildlife crime we need to trace the chain, the tracing should start from the person who kills the animal. We also need to trace the people behind the crimes and how ivory and rhino horns for example leave the country and which countries they are sold," he added.

Twea said apart from using the new law of parks and wildlife the judiciary can also apply other laws like money laundering and forfeiture of assets in dealing with wildlife crime.

Director for Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Brighton Kumchedwa said the sector acknowledges the sentences being meted out by the judiciary on wildlife offences in recent times, noting that the department has now seen an increase in custodial sentences of up to 15 years and an increase in the fines.

"Despite these improvements, challenges still remain, we still have a number of people still involved in wildlife crime mainly trafficking of ivory and rhino horns. Poaching is still a problem in our parks and game reserves," Kumchedwa lamented.

He said the Act will provide reference guide for investigators, prosecutors and the judiciary when handling cases of wildlife crimes.

Read More: http://allafrica.com/stories/201704220276.html

Slaughter of the elephants: Report finds 730,000 of the creatures are 'missing' from Africa's protected areas due to poachers

• Study has found 730,000 elephants are missing in 73 of Africa's protected areas
• Conservationists in South Africa blame the massive loss on 'pervasive poaching'
• The researchers monitored 73 protected areas across 21 African countries

By Julian Robinson for MailOnline

Published: 08:55 BST, 20 April 2017 | Updated: 09:04 BST, 20 April 2017

But they said the situation was not necessarily all 'doom and gloom' since the findings could serve as a global wake-up call.

Study author Ashley Robson said: 'In the past, we've had relatively good estimates of how many elephants there are and how many are poached. But now, we've determined how many elephants there should be in the first place.

'While the magnitude of loss due to poaching is devastating – 730 000 elephants are missing across the 73 protected areas assessed – I don't see our work as more doom and gloom. While the conservation targets are a positive step, our study is a wake-up call 

'On the contrary, we provide ecologically meaningful goals for elephant conservationists to work toward. It's a positive step for elephants.'

Remote sensors were used to monitor vegetation and water sources used by elephant populations while poaching statistics were also taken into account when producing the figures.

Researchers, who published their findings in PLOS ONE also used the largest population database for any mammal species to model the density at which individual populations should stabilise.

Mr Robson added: 'Everyone with an interest in conservation – protected area managers, policy-makers, international funders, and the public – should consider our study.

'We've made it possible to target resources to the protected areas that have the greatest need. Of course, this isn't just for the sake of elephants; elephants play a major role in shaping the savannahs that in Africa cover as much land as the USA and continental Europe combined.

'Losing elephants is detrimental to our savannahs and the species that rely on them.

'While the conservation targets are a positive step, our study is a wake-up call.

'Around 70 per cent of the current distributional range of African elephants fall beyond protected areas. That elephants aren't doing well, even where protected, means we need to take action.'

In August, a separate study found that the number of savanna elephants in Africa was rapidly declining and the animals were in danger of being wiped out as international and domestic ivory trades drive poaching across the continent.

Africa's savanna elephant population plummeted by about 30 per cent from 2007 to 2014 and was declining at about eight per cent a year, said a survey funded by Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen.

'If we can't save the African elephant, what is the hope of conserving the rest of Africa's wildlife?' elephant ecologist Mike Chase, the lead researcher, said in a statement. 'I am hopeful that, with the right tools, research, conservation efforts and political will, we can help conserve elephants for decades to come.' 

The aerial survey covered 18 countries using dozens of airplanes to fly the equivalent of going to the moon and partway back. The study, known as the Great Elephant Census and involving 90 scientists, estimated a population of 352,271 savanna elephants.

Overall, researchers spotted about 12 carcasses for every 100 live elephants, indicating poaching at a high enough level to cause population decline. But the rates were much higher than that in some countries.

Angola, Mozambique and Tanzania experienced greater population declines than previously known, and elephants face local extinction in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Zambia, the study said. It also says numbers of elephants in South Africa, Uganda and parts of Malawi and Kenya were stable or partly increasing. 

Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
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