Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Lisbeth]

Had big Joe not been assassinated?

[Richprins]

No, that was the other one, Petros!

[Lisbeth]

Well, let's hope that big Joe will be locked up for good then.....soon

[Lisbeth]

Cop and court official nabbed for attempting to smuggle 32 rhino horns to Malaysia

BY JONISAYI MAROMO - SEPT 17TH 2021 - IOL

A 53-year-old warrant officer within the South African Police Service (SAPS) was on Friday appearing in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court, with a female accomplice, on charges of alleged involvement in illegal dealings of rhino horns.

“It is alleged that in May 2019, a 53-year-old warrant officer attached to the serious organised crime investigation in Gauteng and his 39-year-old female accomplice allegedly dropped off a consignment in a warehouse at Pomona declared as wine, destined for Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia,” said Gauteng Hawks spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu.

A Hawks’ investigation team focusing on endangered species was alerted about the suspicious wine consignment.

“Upon arrival at the warehouse, authorities searched the wooden crate containing wine and found thirty rhino horns wrapped in plastic concealed under the crate. The crate with its content was taken to forensic services for analysis,” said Mulamu.

Further investigation led the police to positively identified shipment senders, the police officer and a court interpreter.

Warrants of arrest were issued for their apprehension.

“An intelligence operation was conducted simultaneously in Brakpan and Basonia yesterday [Thursday] where both suspects were successfully arrested. Police seized electronic gadgets and documents for investigation,” said Mulamu.

“The suspects will be facing charges of illegal dealing in rhino horns and contravention of the Customs and Excise Act. More arrests cannot be ruled out as the investigation continues.”

In July last year, an illicit consignment of rhino horn worth R115m was seized, as wildlife crime continues to pose a threat in South Africa.

The 41 pieces of rhino horn were stashed in six boxes, concealed in carbon paper and foil, wrapped in traditional material, and disguised as fine art.

The illicit consignment was detected by sniffer dogs during a customs warehouse inspection at OR Tambo International Airport, destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.https://d-26092359983667619756.ampproje ... frame.html

The day before, customs officials had seized a 47kg consignment of rhino horns again destined for Malaysia at OR Tambo, which was marked and declared as scaffolding equipment, valued at R3m.

Original article: https://www.iol.co.za/amp/news/south-af ... ssion=true

[Richprins]

I think a lot of confiscated rhino horn has been stolen from various government agencies...

[Lisbeth]

Yes, there seem to be too many, especially too many at a time

[RogerFraser]

Free State cop shot by suspected rhino poachers

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafri ... s-20210923

• A Free State police officer has been shot during a rhino poaching incident.
  There was a shootout between police and suspected poachers, which left an officer wounded.
  Two people have been arrested for poaching, but the gunmen fled the scene.

A Free State police officer was injured during a rhino poaching incident in the Vredefort area on Tuesday night.

The 34-year-old police officer was shot in the leg during a shootout with suspected poachers, and was rushed to hospital, said police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele.

Two people have since been arrested on charges of rhino poaching, while the gunmen remain at large.

On Tuesday evening, police officers from the Heilbron Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit and Tactical Response Team (TRT) carried out an observation watch following a tip-off about suspects planning to poach rhinos in the Vredefort area.

"A motor vehicle fitting the description circulated was spotted and stopped. The two suspects, aged 39 and 37, were arrested after being linked to the poaching conspiracy," said Makhele.

Meanwhile, officers in Presidentskop also encountered two suspected poachers.

"A shootout ensued between the poachers and police. One TRT member was shot in the leg and rushed to hospital for medical attention. However, the suspects managed to flee the scene, leaving behind one .375 hunting rifle, 10 rounds of live ammunition, a silencer and an axe. These items were confiscated by the police," he said.

Two cases have been opened - one for the attempted murder of the wounded police officer and another for rhino poaching.

"The two suspects will be charged for... rhino poaching and are set to appear before the Vredefort Magistrate's Court on Thursday. There is no one arrested for the attempted murder at this stage," said Makhele.

[Lisbeth]

The police officer was lucky only to be shot in the leg. There is also a lucky rhino or two out there somewhere

[Richprins]

‘Big Joe’ trial moved to Mhala Magistrate’s Court
The trial is set to commence in February 2022.
19 hours ago
Andrea van Wyk

The court case against the alleged poaching kingpin, Joseph “Big Joe” Nyalunga, was postponed on Tuesday until February 14, 2022, for the trial to commence.

He appeared in the Skukuza Regional Court. According to Monica Nyuswa, the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, the case has been moved from the Skukuza Regional Court to the Mhala Magistrate’s Court in Bushbuckridge.


Nyuswa said the move is due to a lack of space in the Skukuza Court. On Tuesday recording equipment in this court was not functioning and this was another reason for the postponement.

Of the 11 accused in the case, only five appeared alongside Nyalunga on Tuesday.

“Five of the accused, who were out on bail, have absconded and the police are looking for them,” said Nyuswa. The charges against the accused in the trial are poaching related as well as one charge of racketeering. These offences were alledgedly committed in 2014.



Nyalunga’s co-accused are Conrad Nkuna and four other South Africans, Happy Zitha (37) of Calcutta, Lang Nguyen (28) of Johannesburg, Tabang Shakwane (37) of Kaapmuiden, and Elijah Ngubeni (39) of KaBokweni.

The six Mozambican accused are Timothy Mcube (44), David Sigangwe (29), Colisto Massada (26), Zeka Santos (31), Checo Cossa (37) and Sam Mashaba (23).

Nyuswa confirmed that a case of murder is also pending against Nyalunga.

He was first arrested in February 2010, in connection with the the death Willey Shipalana.

https://lowvelder.co.za/749944/big-joe- ... OvBWGm1TZk

[Lisbeth]

IT'S NOT TRUE!! February? not any time at all before then? How is this possible? Why to the Mhala Magistrate’s Court in Bushbuckridge? I am sure that the Skukuza court had time before February.

recording equipment in this court was not functioning and this was another reason for the postponement.

How is this possible?

Who is pulling the strings ???????