Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Lisbeth]

We hope that the sentence will serve as a lesson that, one way or another, there is punishment for lawbreakers.”

At least, these three have pleaded guilty and will go to jail and it "only" took a year from arrest to sentence

[graham]

If they had not pleaded guilty this matter would still be dragging on.

What we desperately need is a change in the law so that firearm offenses can be tried separately and quickly. Although the article doesn't mention any charges for the illegal possession of a firearm, I doubt that it would have been legally licensed. The evidence is straight forward and they could have been tried and sentenced within weeks of the crime. Thereafter the other investigations, charges and court proceedings could have followed.

A speedy trial, conviction and imprisonment on some of the offenses is far better than the long delays we often find which allow criminals to continue operating.

[Richprins]

graham!

[Richprins]

Skukuza Regional Court hands poacher 25-year sentence for killing white rhino
A 40-year-old man was sentenced by the court on Friday March 18 for illegally hunting in the Kruger National Park.
10 hours ago
Tumelo Waga Dibakwane

A 40-year-old poacher was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He and his accomplice had been caught poaching in the Kruger National Park (KNP), but his accomplice fled the country and is still at large.

A provincial police spokesperson, Brig Selvy Mohlala, said Mike Nyathi appeared in the Skukuza Regional Court on Friday March 18 for his sentencing.

“Nyathi and Janeiro Chunguane entered the Kingfisherspruit Section inside Kruger National Park on September 17, 2017, and began hunting illegally. They shot and killed a white rhinoceros. Field rangers working at the said section fortunately heard the gunshots and became aware of the intruders inside the park.

“The rangers recovered a .458 Win Mag CZ 550 bolt-action rifle without serial numbers, two .458 Win Mag cartridges of ammunition, an axe and a knife,” he said.

The men appeared in the court where they were both granted bail. Thereafter Chunguane fled to Mozambique and a warrant for his arrest was issued. The police are still looking for him, while on May 13, 2019, Nyathi got involved in a second incident of poaching at the Satara Section in the Kruger National Park.

“The rangers became aware of this and, with the assistance of a tracker dog, tracked the suspect who happened to be Nyathi. He was found by the rangers hiding under a big fallen tree. Once again, the Skukuza police were informed and during his arrest, the field rangers recovered a .458 Win Mag CZ 550 bolt-action rifle without serial numbers, and two .458 Win Mag cartridges. The accused was identified as Mike Nyathi,” said Mohlala.

He was charged again and appeared in court, where he was denied bail until his cases were finalised.

The accused was convicted and sentenced in relation to the two incidents, to an effective 25 years imprisonment, and declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Meanwhile, the provincial police commissioner, Lt Gen Semakaleng Manamela, thanked everyone who had contributed to the case that led to the conviction and ultimate sentence. “We commend the team of field rangers, the investigation team, the prosecution team as well as the judiciary for a job well done. We hope others who might think of poaching will be deterred by this sentence,” she said.

https://lowvelder.co.za/775003/skukuza- ... ite-rhino/

[Lisbeth]

The first crime happened on September 17, 2017, and the sentence came two days ago

[graham]

As I've said before, prosecute the firearm crimes separately. Clear evidence, speedy trial, no bail needed and the second incident would not have happened.

[Richprins]

Two men sentenced to 44 years' imprisonment for rhino poaching

accreditation
Lisalee Solomons


Two men have been sentenced to 44 years' imprisonment for rhino poaching.
They have also been found guilty of possession of four rhino horns.
Their sentences will run concurrently.

The Zeerust Magistrate's Court in North West on Thursday sentenced two men to 44 years' imprisonment each for rhino poaching and other offences.

Alfredo Sitoe, 43, and Thomas Mlambo, 46, were found guilty of possession of four rhino horns, rhino poaching, trespassing and possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Some of the sentences will run concurrently, meaning the men will only serve 12 years behind bars.

The charges against a third accused were withdrawn.

Sitoe and Mlambo's conviction came after they and three other people were arrested while travelling in a minibus in Nietverdiend outside Zeerust in October last year.

"The accused's vehicle was spotted by Madikwe game rangers, who approached it. Upon seeing the rangers' vehicle, the minibus sped off, leading to a car chase," Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani said.

Police said the minibus was ultimately brought to a halt, and police were summoned.

"During the search, an unlicensed firearm and rhino horns wrapped in foil... were found inside a black plastic bag. The police also found an axe, one rifle, ammunition, a knife and a silencer. The suspects were arrested after failing to account for the [items]," said Funani.

One of the men escaped before detention while Thomas Chauke escaped before his court appearance in November last year, added Funani.

The police have urged anyone with information about their whereabouts to contact their nearest police station or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

North West police commissioner Lieutenant General Sello Kwena applauded the Lehurutshe Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit for its collaboration with game rangers in ensuring that the men were arrested and convicted.

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafri ... hDQGYOJoEM

[Peter Betts]

2 escaped >> What bribe was paid and by whom

[Lisbeth]

Maybe they were very fast

[Richprins]

Skukuza court slaps rhino poachers with 19 years in jail after Kruger National Park arrest

Two Mozambican nationals have been sentenced to an effective 19 years in jail after they were cornered and arrested by rangers in the Kruger National Park.

Published Apr 21, 2022


Pretoria - The Skukuza Regional Court has sentenced two rhino poachers to an effective 19 years in jail, after the two Mozambican nationals were arrested last month inside the Kruger National Park.

The court sentenced Lawrence Flaveo Cuetsele, 21, and Nelson Mhlongo, 34, after their arrest in connection with rhino poaching-related activities and possession of firearms with ammunition at the Kruger National Park.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the accused had entered the park through Tsokwane and Lower Sabi sections in March last year.

“It is said that the field rangers heard some gunshots whereby other rangers were activated and with the assistance of SANParks helicopter, three male suspects were cornered,” he said.

Mohlala said the poachers were in possession of a .458 Winchester Magnum hunting rifle fitted with a silencer, seven cartridges, one magazine case and a knife.

https://www.iol.co.za/news/skukuza-cour ... bzkJuz6vfo