A Thika Magistrate has released three Chinese nationals found in possession of an elephant tusk valued at Sh 200,000 on Sh3 Million Bond each.
According to the police file, the three Wang Fu Shun (61), Gao YaFang (60) and Yu Chenglin (34) were arrested by police officers acting on intelligence reports on Sunday night while shopping at Uchumi supermarket in Juja.
The charge sheet stated that the two kilogram piece of ivory was found in a white X-trail car registration number KBU 878E that the three were using.
The three accused denied two counts of being in possession of wildlife trophy and dealing in wildlife trophy charges before resident magistrate Grace Omodho.
Defence lawyer Dennis Chiuri requested the court to offer the couple lenient bond terms owing to their age and health status.
"Mr Wang and Ms Gao are both in their 60s and are currently not under any form of employment. They are living with their son taking care of their grandchild. In addition to that, Ms Gao has a fractured arm and she is diabetic," Chiuri pleaded with the court.
The prosecutor asked the defense lawyer to avail the accused's original passports to establish if the three are in the country legally.
"Photocopies cannot be relied on. The defence lawyer should ensure that the accused present their original passports to establish if they are legally country," said prosecutor Stellah Oyagi.
The Magistrate however granted each of them Sh3 Million bond and ordered that each of them present Kenyan sureties of an amount similar to the bond terms.
The defense lawyer was also ordered to deposit the three Chinese nationals' passports in court.
Mr Wang, Yu and Ms Gao had to take plea later in the afternoon since they could neither speak nor understand the court proceedings that were being communicated in English.
The case will be heard on August 8 this year.