Director of Public Prosecutions applies for life sentence for ivory trader Feisal Mohamed

Feisal Mohamed Ali

The Director of Public Prosecutions wants ivory possession convict Feisal Mohamed Ali imprisoned for life.

In an appeal to the High Court, the DPP wants the 20-year jail term handed to Mr Ali to be enhanced to life imprisonment.

"The DPP wants Feisal's 20 years substituted with life imprisonment," said State Principal Prosecutor Alex Jamii.

Mr Jamii submitted the DPP's wish yesterday, as he filed an appeal in which he said the State would demonstrate that Ali ought to live in jail for the rest of his life.

Jamii added that the magistrate who jailed Ali for 20 years and set free his co-accused was lenient on him.

The DPP also wants the court to reverse Ali's acquittal on a charge of ivory trafficking and instead be condemned in jail for life.

The DPP also appealed against the acquittal of Ali's co-defendants in the two-year trial, claiming that the magistrate had ignored incriminating evidence against them, and only found Ali guilty of the charge of illegal possession of ivory.

Under the law, those found guilty of ivory trafficking are liable for a life term in jail. Illegal possession attracts a minimum of five years.