Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa in Lilongwe has adjourned to next year 10th January hearing of a wildlife crimes case involving Chinese national Bin Liu.
The Chinese national, who is currently on court bail, is suspected to have been found in possession of pieces of ivory worth over MK9 million at his residence in Lilongwe`s Area 47.
This follows parading of three state witnesses including Lawrence Gondwe who is Officer in Charge for the Police Firearms and Ballistics Department and he has told the court that one of the riffles found in possession of Liu did not legally belong to him.
Giving his testimony on Monday, Gondwe told the court that one of the fire arms which Liu was in possession did not legally belong to him.
He told the court that the riffle was licensed to another Chinese national called Lin Jing Ying and that being found with suspect meant that he was keeping it illegally.
The second witness to give his testimony was Senior Parks and Wildlife Officer Alex Chunga who told the court that his roles at the department involves around issuance of hunting licenses.
Chunga said apart from Liu being found in possession of elephant tasks and a skull of an Impala, his license did not permit him to hunt the said animals.
He said the hunting license which Liu had allowed him to hunt other animals except those listed as protected species.
And taking his turn, the third witness, a Wildlife Investigator Miles Zidana told the court that 20 pieces of ivory were examined and the items were calculated which are valued at MK9.2 million.
Meanwhile, the State is expected to parade two more witnesses before closing prosecution when the case resumes on 10th January 2022.
