Harare provincial magistrate Simon Kandiyero has ordered Peter Chipanga (47), Innocent Mudondo (37), Tonderai Boora (39), Evidence Zinhoro (39), and Washington Gondo (36) to remain in custody until May 24 for routine remand.
Kandiyero counseled the accused to ask the High Court to consider granting them bail.
Prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawo claims that on May 9, intelligence from the CID Minerals, Fauna, and Flora Unit led police to believe that the accused had ivory in Mabvuku, Harare.
After receiving the information, an investigator pretended to be an ivory buyer and contacted one of the accused.
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The suspects consented to meet the undercover investigator in the Kamunhu shopping complex in Mabvuku at a store. The detective set up surveillance in the area with the help of a backup crew.
When the suspects got there, they started haggling about the ivory’s price with the detective. They then went ahead and showed the detective the pieces of ivory. Seeing his opportunity, the investigator gave the backup team a signal, and they moved quickly to capture the suspects.
One of the cops fired a warning shot to stop the suspects from trying to escape. Two pieces of ivory were later found by the detectives in Peter Chipanga.
