Serious Mhlanga (35) of Chipinge escaped a mandatory nine-year jail term for pangolin possession after he convinced Harare Magistrate Nomsa Sabarauta that the police had framed him.
Mhlanga said the police had arrested him, while they were already in possession of the endangered pangolin. He further alleged that the police only arrested him after they had failed to apprehend the real criminal when they all fell to the ground while in pursuit. Angered by the perceived jeering from the crowd, the police arrested Mhlanga.
Magistrate Sabarauta ruled that the police could not be believed without an impartial witness as they were now corrupt. Said Sabarauta:
There was supposed to be an independent witness and from the accused’s evidence, you cannot deny his testimony.
More: NewsDay
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