Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Lisbeth]

It's about time to get this one locked up. I have signed the petition!

[nan]

done too

[Richprins]

Friday, 06 October 2023
MEDIA RELEASE POACHER 1 of 1
For Immediate Release
POACHER SENTENCED TO THIRTY YEARS BEHIND BARS
The Skukuza Regional Court, on Thursday, 05 October 2023, sentenced a convicted poacher to an effective thirty-year prison term.
Sidney Sibuyi was part of a three-man, armed poaching gang that entered the Stolznek Section of the Kruger National Park (KNP) illegally on the 26th of September 2020 to hunt rhino. Shots were heard by Field Rangers who reacted and gave chase. Sibuyi was arrested but his two accomplices managed to evade arrest and are still at large. A bag containing five fresh rhino horns and one heavy calibre rifle silencer were recovered close to the convicted poacher, however the rifle and other poaching equipment was not found on him, indicating the two escapees had those in their possession.
The accused appeared in court on the 26 September 2023 and indicated that he wants to plead guilty to the following charges:
1. Trespassing in a National Park
2. Hunting of rhinoceros
3. Hunting of rhinoceros
4. Hunting of rhinoceros
5. Conspiracy to commit a crime.
Today, the court sentenced him as follows:
• Count 1 – 2 years imprisonment
• Count 2, 3 and 4 – 10 years imprisonment each
• Count 5 – 4 years imprisonment
The court ordered the sentences in count 1 and 5 to run concurrently with sentence in count 4. Sibuyi will serve an effective 30 years in prison.
The Managing Executive (ME) of the KNP, Oscar Mthimkhulu congratulated the prosecution, the Ranger Corps , investigators, and the SAPS, saying “we are happy at this heavy sentence imposed by the court and hope it will send a strong message that wildlife crime is a serious matter and has lifelong consequences for those who are caught. Our mandate is to conserve and preserve these magnificent creatures for future generations and for people to mercilessly slaughter three at a go, indicates how callous these criminals are and they deserve these heavy sentences. Our enhanced security measures, dedicated rangers and police will ensure that people pay the price when they get caught inside KNP” concluded Mthimkhulu.

[Lisbeth]

[Richprins]

Rhino horn traffickers foiled
By TimesLIVE - 11 October 2023 - 13:58
A rhino horn and rifle were seized.









Image: SAPS

A high-speed chase forced three suspects to abandon their vehicle, rhino horn, communications tower battery, silencer, firearm and ammunition while evading arrest.

They were intercepted by Volksrust, Mpumalanga, police conducting a stop and search operation at 10pm in Mandela Drive on Monday, police said.

“Police directed the vehicle, a Toyota Corolla, to stop, but the driver ignored the members. The vehicle sped off and police tailed it. Realising they could not escape the police, the suspects alighted from the vehicle and fled on foot.”

Police searched the vehicle and found a rhino horn concealed in a bucket wrapped with adhesive tape, a .303 rifle with live rounds and a silencer hidden under the bonnet of the vehicle and a communications tower battery.

Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects is requested to contact the investigation officer Lt-Col Pretty Mavuso on 079 692 0615 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111 on MYSAPS App.

TimesLIVE

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/sout ... rs-foiled/

[Lisbeth]

Maybe they were too fat to catch up with the criminals or did not even try If the poachers decided to flee on foot, the police must have been right behind them

Apart from bad jokes, it should be mandatory for every member of the police force not to exceed a certain weight.

[Richprins]

Poacher found inside Kruger National Park sentenced to 10 years in prison
By TimesLIVE - 04 December 2023 - 18:08







Friday Ngobeni.
Image: NPA Communications.

The Skukuza regional court on Monday sentenced Friday Ngobeni to 10 years’ imprisonment for poaching-related offences from six years ago.

The court convicted Ngobeni, 45, of trespassing, possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition, conspiracy to commit an offence, possession of a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm with the serial number obliterated.

On November 29 2017, rangers were patrolling in the Kruger National Park in a helicopter at Stols Nek and spotted Ngobeni and his co-accused Mastel Ngobeni, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said.

“They were found in possession of a firearm, ammunition and an axe. They were granted bail and absconded. Later, Friday was rearrested after a warrant of arrest was issued, but his co-accused is still at large.

“The accused pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea to guilty.”

TimesLIVE

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/sout ... in-prison/

[Lisbeth]

There is something wrong with the judicial system; it's not right that six years have to pass before there is a sentence

[Richprins]

09 DECEMBER 2023
SANParks Welcomes the Sentencing of Three Poachers at Kruger National Park
Sipho Clarence Ngomane, Norman Thabang Mogale and Nkosana Ndlovu have been sentenced to an effective six (6) to eight ( years by the Skukuza Regional Court on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, for rhino poaching-related criminal activities. The three were arrested in July 2017 for poaching activities in the Kruger National Park (KNP). The fourth suspect, Lawrence Fanuel Ubisi pleaded guilty earlier and was sentenced in August 2023.
The four were arrested in KNP whilst driving a hired vehicle, which upon inspection after getting stopped by vigilant SANParks Protection Services, was found with a large calibre hunting rifle, ammunition, and backpacks with food.
Details of the court sentences are as follows:

Thabang Mogale, Sipho Clarence Ngomane and Nkosana Ndlovu are sentenced to six years imprisonment for possession of prohibited firearm.
Norman Thabang Mogale, Sipho Clarence Ngomane and Nkosana Ndlovu are sentenced to two years imprisonment for possession of unlicensed ammunition.
Sipho Clarence Ngomane and Nkosana Ndlovu are sentenced to two years for trespassing in a National Park

All three were declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of Act 60 of 2000.
Issued By
South African National Parks – Kruger National Park

[Lisbeth]

Does it never finish? Well, it's six years ago