Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

Information & discussion on the Rhino Poaching Pandemic
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Lisbeth
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Re: Arrested "Mr Big" Petrus Mabuza behind 70% of Kruger Poaching?

Post by Lisbeth »

The reason matters less O**


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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https://ewn.co.za/2018/09/21/pair-nabbe ... standerton

PAIR NABBED FOR POSSESSION OF RHINO HORNS WORTH R7M IN STANDERTON
It’s understood the pair were in the process of selling the horns and Hawks officials says also found an unlicensed revolver with five rounds of ammunition.

Image

JOHANNESBURG - Two men have been arrested at a house in Standerton, Mpumalanga, after they were caught with rhino horns worth about R7 million.

The Hawks swooped on the house on Thursday after a tip-off. It’s understood the pair were in the process of selling the horns.

Spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi says they also found an unlicensed revolver with five rounds of ammunition.

“We’re still trying to ascertain exactly where the rhino horns would go but I think this is a very good success, taking into consideration the operation we had in Mpumalanga. It shows that we’re making inroads in terms of dealing with issues of wildlife trafficking.”


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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Somebody is singing! \O \O \O


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

Post by Lisbeth »

That's the only explanation. All of a sudden, one after the other :shock: ^Q^ ^Q^ Or maybe the files were lying around somewhere on the desk of someone, but nobody had done anything about it :-?


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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A certain minister was removed in December too... ;-)


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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Yes! I have noticed that since there is the new minister of the Police, there is more going on and he is also criticising and informing the whole time \O


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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Aha! that was the one :O^ It took quite some time to get him fired though 0'


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Re: Arrested "Mr Big" Petrus Mabuza behind 70% of Kruger Poaching?

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POACHING SYNDICATES: Big Joe and Mr Big’s run-ins with the law
Wednesday’s appearance in court was not a first for these two alleged rhino horn kingpins.
5 hours ago

Arisa Janse van Rensburg

WHITE RIVER – Alleged rhino poaching kingpins, Petros Sidney Mabuza and Joseph Nyalunga, have a long history with the law. Dubbed “Mr Big” and “Big Joe”, several cases and investigations related to poaching and theft have been opened against them.

Nyalunga, a former policeman, was first arrested in December 2011 after the police confiscated items that were allegedly obtained through proceeds gained from rhino poaching. These items were supposedly worth more than R8 million. He was released on bail of R30 000 in March 2013. Since then the case has been postponed more than 10 times and a trial has yet to begin.


Mabuza’s collision with the law has been more recent. He was arrested in June this year when he allegedly transacted with undercover police and received two rhino horns. His properties were searched before he was arrested and charged with crimes ranging from rhino horn theft to the illegal possession of rifles and live ammunition. In July he was released on bail of R250 000, with one of the major arguments being that his health was deteriorating.


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Big Joe leaving the court on Wednesday.

A major operation by various members of law enforcement led to the arrest of these two again on Tuesday.

They appeared in the White River Magistrate Court on Wednesday, where Mabuza arrived in a wheelchair. They have been charged with the theft of seven white rhino horns that were in the lawful possession of Donald Michael Reginald English and/or the Kruger National Park (SANParks). They were also charged with using a motor vehicle without consent of the owner, fraud, obstruction of justice, possession of unlicensed firearms and being in possession of stolen property – two white rhino horns.


During their first appearance, the media were prohibited from taking photos in court. Hettie Groenewald, who represents Nyalunga, said that she did not want the case to turn into a “media circus”. Mabuza’s defence, as well as the defence for the other accused, echoed her sentiment.


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Mr Big leaving the court on Wednesday.

Both the state and the defence agreed that the case be postponed to September 27 for possible bail applications.


https://lowvelder.co.za/451463/poaching ... n-ins-law/


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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Pics and videos of the two kingpins in the Lowvelder here:


https://lowvelder.co.za/451461/poaching ... operation/


phpBB [video]



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Task force members at Big Joe’s home.


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Trucks at the ready at Big Joe’s house.



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Police helicopters in Hazyview on Tuesday.


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