The Magistrate’s court in Lilongwe has given both parties in a wildlife case involving a 32-year old Chinese national Bin Liu, 14 days to present written submission.

The development follows winding up of the State’s prosecution case after parading its ninth and last witness in the trial.

On Monday this week, the State paraded two witnesses; owner of a house which the accused bought Alamicha Chapuma and police investigator Martha Ngalawa.

Chapuma told Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa that Liu bought the house which is in Lilongwe’s Area 47 in 2018 dispelling rumours that the accused did not own the house.

On her part, the police investigator said the accused was found with several wildlife products and firearms during the time of his arrest.

Ngalawa added that Liu was found with over 1, 000 ammunition.

“During the time of arrest, we searched the place and found several wildlife species, firearms including ammunition, all suspected to have been in possession of the accused,” Ngalawa told the court.

The Chinese national, who is currently on court bail, is answering three counts of possession of specimen of listed species, possession of specimen of endangered species and acquiring a firearm from another person without permit in writing.

According to police investigation, the accused was found in possession of listed species which are 13 processed ivory pieces and 5 pieces of raw ivory weighing 10.250 kilograms valued at K9, 256, 775.00 without a license.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Chirwa has set February 10, 2022 as a date he will determine on whether the accused has a case to answer or not.

Liu was arrested by police in August, 2021.