A Chinese national has been sentenced to a year in prison for attempting to smuggle thousands of live queen garden ants out of Kenya. The court in Nairobi on Wednesday also fined Zhang Kequn 1 million Kenyan shillings (£5,713; $7,737). Judge Irene Gichobi described Zhang as not 'entirely honest' and lacking in remorse. Last month, he was charged with illegally dealing in wildlife species after being arrested at Nairobi's main airport while attempting to travel to China with more than 2,000 ants in his luggage.
Kenyan authorities have warned of a growing demand for the ants in Europe and Asia, where they are prized by collectors. They can be worth around $220 (£170) each. 'There is need for a stiff deterrent sentence,' Judge Gichobi noted, addressing the 'rising cases of dealing in large quantities of garden ants and the negative ecological side effects.'
After serving his sentence, Zhang will be 'referred to his home country,' she added. He has 14 days to appeal the sentence, which his lawyer confirmed he plans to do. Initially pleading not guilty to the charges, including dealing in live wildlife, he later changed his plea to guilty.
Following Zhang's arrest on 10 March, the court heard he had bought the ants from Kenyan national Charles Mwangi at 10,000 Kenyan shillings (£58; $77) for every 100 ants. Mwangi was also charged and is currently out on bail. In a similar case from last year, four men, including two Belgians and a Vietnamese, were sentenced for smuggling live queen ants, which were destined for collectors in Europe and Asia.
Kenyan authorities have warned of a growing demand for the ants in Europe and Asia, where they are prized by collectors. They can be worth around $220 (£170) each. 'There is need for a stiff deterrent sentence,' Judge Gichobi noted, addressing the 'rising cases of dealing in large quantities of garden ants and the negative ecological side effects.'
After serving his sentence, Zhang will be 'referred to his home country,' she added. He has 14 days to appeal the sentence, which his lawyer confirmed he plans to do. Initially pleading not guilty to the charges, including dealing in live wildlife, he later changed his plea to guilty.
Following Zhang's arrest on 10 March, the court heard he had bought the ants from Kenyan national Charles Mwangi at 10,000 Kenyan shillings (£58; $77) for every 100 ants. Mwangi was also charged and is currently out on bail. In a similar case from last year, four men, including two Belgians and a Vietnamese, were sentenced for smuggling live queen ants, which were destined for collectors in Europe and Asia.
