Tang Yong Jian buries his face in his palms in a Nairobi court. The Chinese national was sentenced to seven years in jail after he was found guilty of trying to smuggle  3.4 kg of elephant ivory.  [PHOTO: AFP]

By CYRUS OMBATI and AFP

Nairobi, Kenya: A court on Tuesday slapped a record sentence on a Chinese ivory smuggler, the first person to be convicted under the new legal framework. 

Tang Yong Jian, 40, was ordered to pay Sh20 million or else go to jail for seven years.

Jian, who was convicted by Makadara Principal Magistrate W Oketch,  was arrested on January 18 with 3.4 kg of ivory in a suitcase while in transit from Mozambique to China via Nairobi.

Under the new law, which came into force a month ago, dealing in wildlife trophies carries a minimum fine of Sh1 million or a minimum jail sentence of five years, or both.

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Killing of endangered animals now carries a penalty of life imprisonment, as well as fines of up to Sh20 million.

Previously, punishment for most serious wildlife crimes was capped at a maximum fine of Sh40,000 and a possible jail term of up to 10 years.

A spokesman for the Kenya Wildlife Service said the ruling would give a much-needed boost to wildlife protection efforts.

“It’s a landmark ruling that sets a precedent for those involved in smuggling,” said Paul Udoto, saying stricter sentences will make the “killing of wildlife a high cost business”.

Another Chinese national was on Monday arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport while allegedly smuggling of 0.3kg of ivory.

The man was transiting from Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo to China through Nairobi.

Police said the ivory was in the form of bangles.

 Leopard skin

“He says he bought the ivory thinking they were mere bangles but we suspect much is into it,” said Airport CID boss Joseph Ngisa.

Ngisa noted that there was an increase in the number of Chinese nationals involved in ivory smuggling, but emphasised that Kenyan security agencies were determined to stop the practice.

On January 16, another Chinese national was arrested with ivory, leopard skin and multiple passports. He is believed to be behind a number of cases of smuggling of people and ivory in the country, police said.

The 41-year-old was arrested at an apartment with goods valued at millions of shillings in the posh Riverside estate in Nairobi.

Kenya and China have been collaborating in the fight against poaching and illegal trade in wildlife.