COURT SETS FREE CONVICTED IVORY TRAFFICKER FEISAL ALI MOHAMED
(Posted 06th August 2018)
The Kenyan Criminal Justice system failed. Feisal Mohamed Ali who was convicted of trafficking in illegal elephant tusks last week walked free.
In July 2016, Feisal was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and fined of 20 million shillings for trafficking in 2,152 kilograms of elephant ivory. Feisal’s case began in December 2014 after he apprehended in Tanzania through an INTERPOL led swoop. At that time Feisal was the most wanted ivory trafficker in the world with Interpol giving a red notice against him.
Feisal had appealed against this conviction and sentence terming it harsh. His lawyer, Taib Ali Taib, claimed his client was innocent and that evidence based on Feisal’s conviction had relied on tampered evidence.
This release sets free a dangerous man, and sends a signal to poachers and traffickers that it is open season on elephants and it’s open season on poaching.
Feisal’s release sets us on a course for the permanent and irrevocable extinction of our heritage. Today’s ruling by Lady Justice Dorah Chepkwony, squashes the 2016 landmark ruling by Senior Principal Magistrate Diana Mochache.
Our police, prosecutors, international organisations and conservationists across Kenya cannot accept this traversy of justice. We will continue to seek prosecution of all poachers, and the people and organisations that support them.
Today marks the death of more elephants, but it does not mark the death of conservation. We will continue to work with stakeholders, government, and all people to protect endangered animals and secure our national heritage for all.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution is set to appeal the ruling next week on Monday.
WildlifeDirect through Eyes in the Courtroom has been watching brief and following the case from seizure and arrest all the way to conviction and final acquittal.
