• Two casual workers accused of having 0.7kg warthog teeth, 1.4kg hippo teeth and 3.3kg of elephant tusks worth Sh810,000
•They denied the charges, say police set them up
Two casual labourers yesterday were charged in a Kibera court with illegally possessing warthog teeth and other wildlife trophies.
Motanya James and colleague Silas Elijah were accused of having 0.7kg of warthog teeth, 1.4kg hippo teeth and 3.3kg elephant tusks valued at Sh810,000.
The two allegedly committed the offence on March 19 in Syokimau in Nairobi. They said police planted the trophies and arrested them.
According to the prosecution, the police were on a normal patrol within when they saw the accused with 'suspicions goods'. They pursued and arrested them and took them to Lang'ata police station.
The accused pleaded not guilty, saying they were on a nature walk before the arrest.
They said the police took them to the police station and "planted" the goods on them, falsely accusing them of illegally possessing the parts of the endangered animals.
They requested the court to grant them reasonable bail terms saying they are "simple casual workers who earn a peasant's pay, hence, hence they could not raise any unrealistic bond".
Kibera principal magistrate Derrick Kuto released them on a bond of Sh500,000 pending hearing on July 7.
In the same court, a man was charged with beating up a worker at the Bomas of Kenya and stealing his wallet containing Sh15,000.
Victor Otieno is alleged to have committed the offence On March 7 causing bodily harm to Paul Ouma.
He was also charged with stealing drilling machines, pliers, screwdrivers, a spirit level and a mobile phone from the Bomas staffer.
He was arrested and taken to Lang'ata a police station.
He denied the charges and was released on a bond of Sh600,000 pending hearing on July 7.