Kenya court fines Thai woman $500 over illegal ivory

Thailand's Thararat Noiphoromma at the Makadara law courts in Nairobi where she was charged with possession of illegal ivory while on transit from Mozambique to Bangkok. She was fined $500. Photo/PHOEBE OKALL |

A Thai national, arrested on Saturday at Kenya's main airport while attempting to smuggle ivory products, has been fined $500 (Sh40,000).

Thararati Noiphoroma pleaded guilty to being in possession of 19.5kg of assorted ivory cargo manufactured from elephant tusks worth $2,440 (Sh195,000).

She was arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) enroute to Bangkok, Thailand from Mozambique. The woman's luggage contained 105 pieces of ivory bangles, necklaces and two elephant tusks.

In her mitigation through lawyer Cliff Ombeta, the foreigner, who was on transit, wondered why the Kenyan authorities arrested and detained her yet she bought the ivory in a street in Mozambique.

Bought the bangles

“My client is wondering why she was detained yet in her country, Mozambique, where she is married to an African, these game trophies are bought in open market. It is a free trade in Mozambique.”

Mr Ombeta said she had bought the bangles as presents to her relatives back home.

The magistrate also heard that the accused was in the company of her six-year-old child “who is still at the JKIA waiting for her mother".

"I urge this court to exercise leniency in the spirit of Christmas and New Year. She can even be freed without being fined,” Mr Ombeta urged the magistrate.

But the court directed the accused to pay a fine of $250 (Sh20,000) or face one year in default for the offence of being in possession of illegal ivory and failing to report to the relevant authorities.

She was also fined $250 (Sh20,000) or serve one year in default for dealing in ivory.

By RICHARD MUNGUTI in Nairobi(Africa Review)