A clearing agent who on Tuesday surrendered to police over the Sh100M ivory consignment impounded at the port has been charged with smuggling the haul.

Fredrick Sababu Mungule was charged with smuggling 3827 kilogrammes of the consignment said to be the largest haul recovered at the Mombasa port. He was released on a Sh1Million bond.

Mungule becomes the third suspect to be charged after two Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) senior officials were charged over the consignment. The cases have been consolidated.

Yesterday, Mungule, who was accompanied by lawyer Francis Kadima, denied one count of conspiracy and a second one of contravening the East Africa Customs Act of 2004 by taking prohibited goods to the port.

He is alleged to have conspired with others before court to illegally pass 638 pieces of ivory weighing 3827.5 kg through the Mombasa port between December 27 last year and 14 January this year. Police had applied for his detention as they conduct investigations, but Kadima objected to the application.

Prosecutor Peter Githoge said the accused had refused to be give details while at the station and asked that he be remanded for specimen taking.