South Koreans pay to Malawi k5 million for possessing ivory

Lilongwe senior residence magistrate court has ordered two citizens of South Korea to pay 2 million 2 hundred and fifty thousand kwacha each or serve a 2 year jail term with hard labour for possessing and attempting to export Ivory.

Hyun Ku Kim, aged 60, and Lee Sang Yong, aged 65 were arrested at Kamuzu International Airport when the x-ray machine detected the 1.5kgs ivory in the Kim’s bag.

Public relations officer of police at the airport Sapulain Chitonde said a police physical search followed which found five pieces of curved game trophy valued at 2 million kwacha.

“The suspected owner of the bag, Hyun Ku Kim accepted liability but was quick to implicate Yong who gave him the Ivory as a gift,” said Chitonde

He added Yong admitted the offence.

“Meanwhile, the trophies have been forfeited to Malawi government and already collected by officers from national parks and wildlife department,” Chitonde said.

He added they answered counts of Illegal possession, exportation and dealing in a government Game Trophy (Ivory) contrary to National Parks and Wildlife Act of 2004.