Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Toko]

Interpreter in rhino horn case ‘compromised’

May 5 2013 at 04:01pm
By WARDA MEYER

Cape Town - The Western Cape justice department has revealed that a Vietnamese interpreter sourced to assist the Khayelitsha Priority Court in one of the Western Cape’s biggest illegal rhino horn cases was believed to have been “compromised”.

This comes after the Vietnamese accused, Xuan Binh Dang, 25, and Huong Giang Chu, 32, had their case temporarily struck from the court roll last week after the State failed to provide an interpreter.

The men were caught with a dozen rhino horns, including one so big it had to be cut in half to be hidden in their luggage.

They were nabbed while on a bus en route to Cape Town in November 2010, during a routine police search operation at a roadblock near Beaufort West, and charged with possession of rhino horn.

The men were imprisoned, and Hishaam Mohamed, provincial head of Justice, said on Saturday they had not been released, as was earlier reported, when the rhino case was struck temporarily from the roll.

They appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court three days ago, on other charges relating to the contravention of the Immigration Act after being charged with passport irregularities under section 49. That case was postponed to tomorrow – again, for want of an interpreter.

Weekend Argus has learnt that the charges in respect of the rhino horn are likely be reinstated against the men.

Mohamed said on Saturday that “some of the interpreters” who offered their services had allegedly been “compromised, so the Justice Department did not want to make use of them”.

He added that the challenges faced by the department in obtaining Vietnamese interpreters included:

* The interpreters were often suspected of being influenced by those connected to the accused, and in some instances bribes were offered.

* Others did not pass security checks, raising further questions about whether they had also been compromised.

* Vietnamese interpreters sourced in South Africa were often unwilling to assist.

In the Khayelitsha case, Mohamed said, attempts to secure interpreters who helped in a similar case in Gauteng found them either unavailable or unwilling to assist.

With regard to the interpreter involved in the Khayelitsha case, the department was concerned about security, and non-compliance in respect of tax provisions.

While another interpreter had been sourced in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, it would take at least another two weeks to obtain the necessary work permit and visas.

Mohamed said the department viewed rhino smuggling cases in a very serious light, and that the Khayelitsha matter was being dealt with at a senior-management level in the province.

Meanwhile, over the weekend the department obtained the services of a Vietnamese interpreter from Kenya for tomorrow’s case, thanks to the assistance of an NGO.

“Cost will not be a deterrent in our fight against rhino poaching,” Mohamed said.

On the issue of the NPA considering reinstating rhino poaching charges, Western Cape NPA spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said any decision would only be taken after the men had appeared in court tomorrow on the immigration charges.

warda.meyer@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus

[Toko]

Vietnam officials seize rhino horns worth R3 million

Monday 6 May 2013 08:25

Vietnamese officials have seized more than seven kilogrammes of rhino horn, amid pressure to stem demand that is fuelling poaching in South Africa and other African nations.

The two horns are worth about R3 million. They were found hidden in the luggage of a passenger who arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on a flight from Doha. The Vietnamese passenger has been taken into custody.

South Africa and other nations have been negotiating with Vietnam to develop a database to track legal rhino horn trophies and to reduce local demand for the substance which many Asians incorrectly believe has healing powers.

Meanwhile, two suspected rhino poachers will appear at the Makhado Magistrate's court in Limpopo on Monday. They were arrested on Friday at the Kruger National Park's Pafuri side. Police spokesperson, Ronel Otto, says two rhino horns and a rifle were found in their possession.

[Flutterby]

Media Release: Rhino poaching update

Date: 9th May 2013

8 May 2013 - Arrests for rhino poaching this week showed a considerable increase, with 11 alleged poachers being arrested in the eastern half of the country.

The latest arrests bring to 94 the number of people caught for rhino poaching and smuggling rhino horn since 1 January.

The arrests came as the number of rhino poached since the beginning of the year increased to 292.

The Kruger National park continues to be the worst hit, with the number of rhinos poached since January increasing to 216. In North West province a total of 23 rhinos have been poached, while 20 have been poached in KwaZulu-Natal, 19 in Limpopo and 14 in Mpumalanga.

SANParks said that two men were arrested in Marble Hall on May 1 after they had allegedly approached a local farmer to sell rhino horns in their possession.

The horns and rhino poaching equipment were among the items confiscated during the arrest.

SANParks said eight of the 11 people arrested were caught during joint operations in the past week, five suspected poachers were arrested on May 1 while en route to the Timbavati Private Game Reserve.

The alleged poachers, who had been under surveillance for almost a month, were found in possession of a hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment.

During a follow-up investigation the same day three more suspected poachers were arrested near Giyani, during a joint operation with the police. A hunting rifle and poaching equipment was confiscated.

Two alleged poachers were fatally wounded in shooting incidents on the same day.

SANParks said two alleged poachers were arrested in the Kruger National Park after they killed a rhino cow near Pafuri, in the north of the Park, on Saturday. A .458 hunting rifle, ammunition, two rhino horns and poaching equipment were recovered.

In a shootout near Crocodile Bridge at the weekend, one alleged poacher was fatally wounded in a skirmish with the Kruger Park ranger corp on Sunday night. Two alleged accomplices fled. A .375 hunting rifle with a silencer, ammunition and poaching equipment were recovered.

As of January, 44 alleged poachers have been arrested in the Kruger National Park, 20 in Limpopo, 13 in KwaZulu-Natal, 8 in North West, 6 in Mpumalanga and 3 in Gauteng.

South Africans are urged to report incidents of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.





For media queries, contact:
Albi Modise on 083 490 2871

Issued by:
The Department of Environmental Affairs

[Toko]

Suspected rhino poachers released on bail

HOEDSPRUIT – Five suspected rhino poachers that were arrested during a joint operation between SANParks, the SAPS, Protrack Anti Poaching Unit, Mpumalanga Parks and Hoedspruit Farm Watch have been released on bail of R1000 each.
‘I don’t know how we’re supposed to stop the poachers when they are just let out on bail again’ says a despondent Vincent Barkas from Protrack on Tuesday.
The suspects were arrested on May 1 on the Guernsey road just outside Hoedspruit. A hunting rifle, silencer and ammunition were recovered during the arrest.
Although the release of the five suspects comes as a disappointment to all who worked hard to capture these men, Vincent added that on that night they were at least apprehended before any rhinos could be poached. From Protrack’s statistics, it would seem as if the Hoedspruit policing area is slightly better off this year than in the past two years with regards to rhino poaching.
‘By this time last year and in 2011, four rhinos had been poached. This year we are up to three animals poached in the Hoedspruit area’ says Vincent. Nationally, 280 rhinos have been slaughtered since the beginning of the year.

[Richprins]

Still good work by all involved!

It is very curious as to why the poachers were released on bail. That is abnormal!

[Mel]

A bail of R1000 is ridiculously low?!

[Toko]

Limpopo cracks whip on poachers - 31 arrested

14 May 2013

A total of 31 people have been arrested for alleged rhino poaching in Limpopo this year, provincial police said on Tuesday (14/05/2013).

Colonel Ronel Otto said that during the arrests police seized 11 rifles, 128 rounds of ammunition, and several knives and axes.

Four rhino horns and two elephant tusks were also recovered.

Otto said the provincial stock-theft unit played a significant role in tackling poachers in the province.

"The escalating number of rhino which were being poached in the province prompted the provincial commissioner of Limpopo Lt-Gen Simon Mpembe to assign the stock-theft unit to crack rhino poaching syndicates,” said Otto.

Last week, the environmental affairs department said that since the beginning of the year a total of 94 people had been arrested for rhino poaching nation-wide.

Spokesman Albi Modise said 44 people were arrested in the Kruger National Park alone, making it the most problematic area.

At the time Modise said 292 rhino had been poached since the beginning of 2013. - Sapa

Six days ago issued by Department of Environmental Affairs: 20 arrests in Limpopo

Rhino poaching update 8 May 2013

[Richprins]

The Timbavati and Letaba Ranch bunch should fall under Limpopo?

[Toko]

Poacher wounded in Kruger Park

May 15 2013 at 11:06am
By SAPA

Johannesburg - A rhino poacher has been wounded in a shootout with rangers in the Pretoriuskop section of the Kruger National Park, SA National Parks (SANParks) said on Wednesday.

He and another poacher were arrested, and a .458 rifle fitted with a silencer, ammunition, an axe, and a knife were seized on Tuesday night, said spokesman Ike Phaahla

“The third suspect managed to escape in the cover of darkness,” he said.

The two men arrested would appear in the White River Magistrate's Court on Thursday. - Sapa

[H. erectus]

White River Magistrate's Court

Tarnished red with rhino blood!!!

Can only be a busy place to be, little White river!!!