Alleged
Queen of Ivory, Yang Feng Clan is the sole buyer of elephant tusks
collected from different poachers in the county, the prosecution has
claimed.
The claims against
the 66- year old Chinese, charged with leading organised crime and
unlawful dealing in 5.4bn/- government trophies, were made at the Kisutu
Resident Magistrate's Court in Dar es Salaam last Thursday, during the
preliminary hearing of the economic sabotage case.
The Chinese woman
is charged alongside two Tanzanians, Salivius Matembo and Manase
Philemon, both aged 39. During the session, Principal State Attorney
Faraja Nchimbi, assisted by State Attorney Paul Kadushi, disclosed more
facts before Principal Resident Magistrate Huruma Shaidi, showing how
the accused committed the offences.
The prosecution
claimed that prior to April 20, 2014, Tanzanian police officers received
intelligence tip on existence of a high profile crime syndicate,
purchasing elephant tusks from middle class suppliers across the country
and eventually exporting them to Asian countries. Upon receipt of the
tip, on April 20, 2014, the police arrested one member of the syndicate,
Manase Philemon who confessed participation to the criminal racket,
colluding with other accused.
"The second
accused, Philemon, confessed further that together with the first
accused, Salivius Matembo, had been collecting elephant tusks from
poachers across the country, with the third accused, Yang Feng, being
their sole buyer," the prosecution disclosed.
The police mounted
investigations that culminated into the arrest of Matembo and the
Chinese woman, who also confessed to have taken an active role in the
alleged criminal racket, the prosecution charged.
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