Man jailed 10 years for illegal possession of pangolin in Lilongwe

The Principle Resident Magistrate’s court sitting at Lilongwe, has convicted and sentenced a 37-year-old man, Robert Marko to 10 years imprisonment for being found in possession of a live pangolin.

Lilongwe Police Prosecutor, Sub Inspector Damiano Nyasulu, told the court that marko (convict), together with other accomplices who are still at large, were selling a live pangolin at K9 million on September 1, 2023 in Nathenje, Lilongwe.

Marko was arrested by detectives after the law enforces disguised themselves as potential buyers of the pangolin.

However his accomplices escaped the scene.

In court, after plea of guilty, the convict asked for leniency to the court when passing its sentence saying he is a first time offender, and that he is a bread winner of his family.

But the State, through Prosecutor Nyasulu, asked the court for a stiffer sentence, saying that the convict planned to commit the offence. Nyasulu further submitted that government is spending a lot of money to protect these animals, hence need for custodial sentence to deter other would be offenders.

Passing his sentence, Principle Resident Magistrate Roderick Michongwe, concurred with the State saying the offence Marko committed is serious in nature. Michongwe then proceeded to pronounce a 10-year imprisonment sentence with hard labour.

Robert Marko (convict) hails from Chimbe Village, Traditional Authority Mazengera in Lilongwe District.