Zhang Jie , Xing Wei and Shang Li in the dock at a Milimani court . The police were glanted 5 days to continue holding them following their arrest with game trophies. [Photo: George Njunge / Standard]
Three Chinese and a Kenyan national accused of illegal possession of wildlife trophies worth more than Sh6 million will be held for five days.
Shang Li Yan, Xing Wei, Zhang Jie and David Maseno Oseko were arrested in Kilimani, Nairobi, on Tuesday.
The police found several wildlife trophies and contraband goods in their house at Aberdare Court along Kayahwe road.
The court allowed the police to detain the suspects to enable completion of investigations. They were said to be a flight risk.
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Maseno is said to be an employee of the Chinese.
Detectives had asked the court to allow them to detain the suspects for 10 days.
Rotting meat
The investigations will include testing the rotting meat found in the house when the suspects were arrested, as well as data from electronic equipment recovered from the house.
The officers said Maseno failed provide proof of employment, even after claiming he had been hired by the Chinese.
Police claimed Shang failed to produce her passport while Zhang’s passport showed his visa had expired.
Defence lawyer Issa Nyakundi opposed an application to detain his clients, saying it was a violation of their rights.
"You cannot say the accused are working as a cartel based on foul smell from their house as reported,” said Mr Nyakundi.
The case will be mentioned on January 14.
