Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Lisbeth]

[Richprins]

Hawks on the hunt for Middelburg poaching syndicate suspects

Pair suspected of paying Kruger Park field rangers for tactical information
15 December 2022 - 12:21
Orrin Singh Reporter

Eunice Lekhuleni, 24, and Martin Prince Lekhuleni, 37, are wanted by the Hawks for allegedly paying money into the accounts of field rangers and their families for tactical information in Kruger National Park to assist poaching syndicates.




Image: Hawks

The Hawks in Mpumalanga are on the hunt for two people who are allegedly part of a poaching syndicate and wanted in connection with money laundering. 

Martin Prince Lekhuleni, 37, and Eunice Lekhuleni, 24, are sought by the Hawks’ serious corruption investigation unit in Middelburg.

Hawks spokesperson Capt Dineo Sekgotodi said the two fled during the arrest of nine other suspects from the Maluleke and Ubisi families during a multidisciplinary integrated takedown operation, “Blood Orange”, in the early hours of December 2.


“Financial investigations revealed money flow in and out of the accounts of the suspects. It is alleged that Lekhuleni paid money into the accounts of field rangers and their families as gratification for tactical information in Kruger National Park to assist poaching syndicates,” Sekgotodi said.
Ex-game rangers sentenced to seven years for poaching-related offences

The family of the former field ranger Chikwa David Maluleke — Joyce Maluleke, 51, Stephinah Mbhombi, 52, Oters Maluleke, 27, Miyelani Maluleke, 29, and Nkhesane Maluleke, 22 — were released on R5,000 bail each.

The family of former field ranger Solly Ubisi — Thandi Makhuvele, 37, Alsina Mkhonto, 61, Ignatia Mnisi, 36, Given Mzimba, 28 — were released on R3,000 each.

The case was postponed to January for further investigation and to include them with other accused.

“Anyone with further information on the investigation is urged to contact the Hawks’ investigating officer, Col Danie Hall on 071-481-3281.”

TimesLIVE

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/sout ... -suspects/

[Lisbeth]

[Richprins]

Three poachers found with rhino horns sentenced to lengthy jail terms
17 January 2023 - 18:48
Ernest Mabuza Journalist
.


The Skukuza regional court on Tuesday convicted and sentenced three Mozambicans to lengthy jail terms after finding them guilty of poaching-related offences in the Kruger National Park.

Lawrence Makamu, 28, George Miyanga, 48, and Nulo Burro, 31, were convicted of trespassing, contravention of the Immigration Act, possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit illegal poaching, killing of a black rhino, two counts of the killing of a white rhino, possession of ammunition and possession of two hunting knives.

On June 30 last year, the three men illegally entered the park in the Malelane section and killed a black rhino.

They did not exit the park until July 1 when rangers heard gunshots around the Malelane section and started searching for the suspects using a helicopter.

“They found another two white rhinos killed, and continued with the search and found Makamu, Miyanga and Burro hiding with six fresh rhino horns, firearms, two hunting knives and four live rounds of ammunition,” National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said.

She said in aggravation of the sentence, the court took into consideration that the suspects did not only kill a white rhino, they also killed a black rhino which is regarded as a critically endangered species. 

During sentencing, the court considered that Muyanga had a previous conviction of illegal poaching and sentenced him to 33 years’ imprisonment while Makamu and Burro were each sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment.

“The NPA acknowledges the collaboration displayed by the investigating officer and the prosecutor. Poaching is a threat to the economy,” Nyuswa said.

TimesLIVE

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south- ... i4Ud6imHgI

[Lisbeth]

Luckily they are locked away

Poaching is a threat to the economy

Sure, but IMO there are more important factors than money involved.

[RogerFraser]

Four more years in prison for rhino poacher

Mfana Ignitus Kubai’s prison sentence was increased from 11 to 15 years on appeal
31 January 2023 | By Tania Broughton
Law | Polokwane

https://www.groundup.org.za/article/fou ... -sentence/


An appeal court has increased the sentence of a man convicted of rhino poaching from 11 to 15 years. Photo: Brent Meersman

• An appeal court has increased the sentence of a man convicted of rhino poaching from 11 to 15 years.
  The initial sentence was far too lenient and not in line with the Limpopo Environmental Management Act, said the judge.
  Poacher Mfana Kubai was “found with his hands in the cookie jar” with two rhino horns, a rifle and a silencer.
  Judge Phatudi said prison sentences needed to show “just retribution” for the crime and act as a deterrent.

An appeal court has increased the prison sentence of a rhino poacher from 11 to 15 years.

Limpopo Judge Legodi Phatudi, with Judge Thogomelani Tshidada concurring, said the initial sentence given to Mfana Ignitus Kubai in the Louis Trichardt regional court in 2016 was lenient and shockingly inappropriate.

This was especially so since the province had one of the highest number of poaching incidents and rhinos are on the verge of extinction.

Judge Phatudi said Kubai had committed an offence which infringed the rights of all South Africans to have the environment protected.

“This pandemic is committed out of greed – to get rich quick,” the judge said.

Kubai, in his appeal, had argued that his sentence was too high. He said the trial court had not taken into consideration that he was a first offender and a breadwinner and had spent two years in custody awaiting trial.

However, the appeal judges indicated at the outset that the sentence imposed had not been in accordance with the Limpopo Environmental Management Act (LEMA) which prescribed a maximum term of 15 years.

Because of this, they were “bound to interfere” with the sentence and consider the evidence afresh.

Kubai, dressed in camouflage, was arrested in June 2014 at Chataronga in the far north of Limpopo, after a carcass of a recently killed rhino was found with two horns missing.

He was found in possession of a rifle, a silencer in a lunch box and two rhino horns in a black refuse bag – “caught with his hands in the cookie jar”, the judge said.

Read the full judgment https://www.groundup.org.za/media/uploa ... /rhino.pdf

At the initial trial, Isak Prinsloo, manager at Chataronga game farm, said it cost R200,000 a month for security to protect the 51 rhinos on the farm. He said the farm had lost 11 rhinos to poaching in four years.

A probation officer said the offence was committed out of greed. He said Kubai lived a lavish lifestyle and drove luxury cars. Members of the community wondered where he got the money to sustain his lifestyle.

In rebutting Kubai’s claim that he “knew nothing about rhino poaching”, there was evidence that Kubai had in 2008 been arrested for 11 incidents of rhino poaching but had not been prosecuted because he had assisted the police which led to the arrest of some Chinese nationals.

Judge Phatudi said Kubai was clearly knowledgeable on how to poach wild animals and had “found his niche in rhino poaching”.

“He went to Chataronga with the full intent to hunt. He had with him a rifle and a silencer.

“I am not persuaded to consider him as a fallen angel. And it is immaterial whether he is a first offender or not,” said the judge.

Judge Phatudi said society watched the type of sentences courts imposed in poaching matters and courts needed to show “just retribution” for the crime and act as a deterrent.

“I find it necessary to increase the sentence in order to bring to equilibrium the scales of justice relating to the offence and the interests of society, as opposed to (Kubai’s) personal circumstances.”

He said a sentence less than the prescribed maximum of 15 years in terms of LEMA, would be disproportionate because of Kubai’s involvement in rhino poaching in 2008, and because he viewed poaching as his “niche and a lucrative business opportunity”.

Judge Phatudi ordered that Kubai, who was on bail pending the outcome of the appeal, report to his local police station within three days (as from date of judgment on 27 January 2023).

He also directed that the judgment be sent to SANParks and the Green Law Foundation which were monitoring the case.

[Richprins]

[Lisbeth]

To appeal can be dangerous

This should not happen though:

two years in custody awaiting trial.

[Lisbeth]

Many more details here.

[Richprins]

Man jailed for five years for possession of rhino horns


By TIMESLIVE - 11 February 2023 - 12:02
Armand Amosse Chingo was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, two of which were suspended. File photo.


A 33-year-old man has been jailed for five years after being caught transporting rhino horns to Johannesburg on June 22 last year.

Armand Amosse Chingo was caught after authorities received information about a bakkie travelling from KwaZulu-Natal to Gauteng with the horns, the Hawks said on Saturday.

“The vehicle was stopped in Primrose near Germiston. The resultant search uncovered two freshly extracted rhino horns.

“Chingo was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, two of which were suspended,” the Hawks said.

TimesLIVE


https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/sout ... ino-horns/