Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Richprins]

WATCH: Joseph ‘Big Joe’ Nyalungu remanded in custody

‘Big Joe’ was caught with explosives commonly used in the commission of cash-in-transit heists.
6 hours ago
Lowvelder


Joseph Nyalungu. > Photo: Supplied

Disgraced former Komatipoort policeman, alleged rhino poaching kingpin and murder accused Joseph Nyalungu was once again arrested on Tuesday, October 15.

This time, the man colloquially known as ‘Big Joe’, who is now in his 60s, was caught with explosives commonly used in the commission of cash-in-transit heists. The operation, in which the SAPS’s elite National Intervention Unit pounced on Nyalungu’s workshop in Hazyview, follows a meticulous investigation by the Hawks.

Nyalungu was allegedly found in possession of two sticks of dynamite, two detonators, two chords and three rounds of 458 ammunition.

Nyalungu spent Tuesday night behind bars, after which he appeared in the Calcutta Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, October 16.

He has been remanded in custody pending his next court appearance in the same court on Friday, October 18.

He is no stranger to the inside of a courtroom, as he currently faces a raft of charges in a series of court cases, relating to rhino poaching, murder, racketeering, theft, tax evasion, money laundering and corruption, among others. The unlawful possession of explosives and ammunition this week is the latest to be added to this already sizeable list.

Lowvelder will update its readers on lowvelder.co.za as the case unfolds.

https://www.citizen.co.za/lowvelder/new ... OdBVFQWzBw

[Lisbeth]

This time I hope that they will keep him dressed in Orange inside the walls!

[Richprins]

Three men on way to poach rhino in Eastern Cape get 12 years each

By Ernest Mabuza - 29 October 2024 - 20:10


The high court in Makhanda on Tuesday sentenced three foreigners to 12 years’ imprisonment each after they were convicted of conspiracy to poach rhino horns, unlawful firearm and ammunition possession, and unlawfully entering South Africa.

On July 31 2018, Kenneth Chigaweni, 36, Thomas Joao Machele, 53, and Amos Ncube, 44, travelled from Gqeberha carrying an unlicensed firearm and various equipment with the intent to poach rhinos and remove their horns at the Ezulu Game Reserve between Bedford and Makhanda.

None of the accused had a licence to possess the firearm. The three were intercepted during a routine roadblock on the R63 near Bedford, where police discovered a concealed hunting rifle wrapped in a cloth behind the driver’s seat.

“Additional tools, including a silencer, ammunition, hunting knife, saw, axe, slasher, torch and tinfoil, were found in the vehicle’s boot, alongside multiple mobile phones.

“The equipment matched what would be required to poach rhinos and remove their horns,” National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said.

He said Eastern Cape game reserves, such as those in Makhanda and Bedford, were home to significant rhino populations, which had been severely affected by poaching.

“Authorities alleged that Chigaweni, Machele, and Ncube were part of a co-ordinated group aiming to kill rhinos and sell their horns on the black market.”

The three men pleaded not guilty.

“Johannes Coetzee, for the state, led the evidence of police officers who conducted the roadblock where the accused were apprehended, establishing the accused’s involvement in the poaching scheme.”

Each man was sentenced to 12 years for conspiracy to commit theft of rhino horns, eight years for conspiracy to engage in restricted activities involving rhinos and seven years for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

“Additionally, Machele and Ncube received an extra three years for unlawfully entering and remaining in South Africa.”

All sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of 12 years for each accused.

Eastern Cape director of public prosecutions Barry Madolo said the sentences highlighted the seriousness with which courts regarded wildlife crimes and sent a clear message that poaching and its associated crimes would not be tolerated in South Africa.

“We remain committed to protecting our endangered species and holding accountable those who threaten our natural heritage for personal gain,” Madolo said.

TimesLIVE

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2024 ... ears-each/

[Lisbeth]

They have waited six years for a sentence! However criminal their behaviour, it is not human I suppose that they have been in jail, if not they would have disappeared.

These articles never tell the story and one always remains with lots of ???

[Richprins]

Police arrest three suspected rhino poachers armed with a hunting rifle, pistol and ammo

By TIMESLIVE - 21 November 2024 - 14:36
Police found a disassembled hunting rifle with a silencer and seven rounds of ammunition after arresting three suspected rhino poachers.

Three suspected rhino poachers are expected in court after their arrest in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.

Police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda said they were arrested in Pongola shortly after midnight as part of Operation Vala Umgodi.

“Police collected intelligence about the three suspects who were travelling from Hluhluwe to a game farm in Magudu area where they were reportedly going to poach rhinos. An operation was put in motion and the suspects’ vehicle was intercepted on the R66 Road in the Pongola policing precinct,” he said.

“During the search, police found a disassembled hunting rifle with a silencer and seven rounds of ammunition. A licensed pistol was also found in the possession of the suspects.”

The suspects aged between 33 and 40 years old will appear in the Pongola magistrate's court on charges of possession a prohibited firearm. The possibility of more charges being added cannot be ruled out.

TimesLIVE

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2024 ... e_vignette

[Lisbeth]

[Richprins]

15 accused of rhino poaching-linked financial crimes appear in Mbombela court

Two former field rangers and some of their relatives were among the defendants.
21 hours ago
Jacqueline Herbst


Fifteen people accused of financial crimes related to rhino poaching briefly appeared in the Nelspruit Commercial Crimes Court on Monday.
Among the accused were two former field rangers and some of their relatives.

While the majority of the respondents appear to be from a humble background, almost all of them are represented by private advocates.
Although the State was ready to commence with trial proceedings, the matter was provisionally postponed to February 27 for possible pretrial conference.

This as accused number eight’s recently appointed legal aid representative requested more documents from the State.

The documents, understood to be the case docket, were provided to her on a hard drive at the court and, should she manage to work through everything by the next court date, trial dates may be set.

The Hawks arrested a total of 16 suspects in 2022 as a result of Operation Blood Orange, a multidisciplinary ‘follow-the-money’ investigation aimed at addressing the rhino poaching scourge that has wiped out a reported 8 936 rhinos between 2006 and 2020 in South Africa alone.



Field rangers Daniel Maluleke and Solly Ubisi, along with Francis Kipampa, Martin Lekhuleni, Eunice Lekhuleni, Sipho Nyundu, Agina Mkhonto, Thandy Makhuvele, Ignatia Mnisi, Given Mzima, Joyce Maluleke, Nkateko Maluleke, Otters Maluleke, Miyelani Maluleke, Khensani Maluleke and Stephilina Mbhombi first appeared in May 2023 on charges of money laundering, corruption, conspiracy and contravention of Secton 57 of Nemba relating to dealing in rhino horns and other charges.

They have been awaiting trial ever since.

However, upon pleading guilty to all charges, the Middelburg Regional Court sentenced Kipampa, a 51-year-old Congolese national, to 18 years’ imprisonment on Wednesday.

While his 15 co-accused (all South African citizens) were out on bail awaiting trial, Kipampa had been sampling state-sponsored hospitality behind bars. As an illegal immigrant, his bail application was refused.

Kipampa, who was based in Johannesburg at the time of his arrest, is understood to have been a level four international seller to the Asian market.

Due to his sentencing, Kipampa did not appear along with the other 15 on Monday, and specialist prosecutor Adv Ansie Venter gave instruction that his case had been finalised and that the charges against him in the matter before the court would therefore be withdrawn in his absence.


Congolese national Francis Kipampa (51), understood to be a level four exporter, was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to all charges. > Photo: Supplied/Hawks




Insight from an Operation Blood Orange case review

According to a Project Blood Orange case review, published by Save the Rhino International, criminal syndicates have an appetite for exploiting poor community members, often recruiting them to become level one or two poachers and local couriers.

The case review references a report in which 83% of convicted poachers interviewed had not reached or completed secondary school, while 38% were unemployed.

Higher up the food chain, level three and four operatives’ activities diversify into human trafficking, trafficking of other species, cash-in-transit robberies, car theft and murder-for-hire.

Key to the success of the project was the identification of the tools used by the syndicate, which would then guide the collection of relevant information for further analysis.

Different levels of the syndicate used different tools, but communication, transportation and payment tools appear to be the golden threads that are utilised across the board.

While dead animals, firearms, ammunition and hunting tools are the obvious telltale signs of wildlife crimes such as rhino poaching, bribes, asset conversions, cash flow, lifestyle enhancements, laptops, cellphone messages and bank transactions are among the hidden indicators investigators look for to snuff out this brand of organised crime.

https://www.citizen.co.za/lowvelder/new ... BYjOWNwtQw

[Lisbeth]

A nice bunch of criminals

[Richprins]

Skukuza Regional Court sentences three men for rhino poaching

A rhino horn was found in the men’s possession during their arrest in 2019.
20 hours ago
Riot Hlatshwayo




The three men who were sentenced: Sam Khosa, Solly Bennett Selahle and Oddis Maluleke. > Photo: Supplied/SAPS

On Friday, January 24, the Skukuza Regional Court delivered lengthy sentences to two men for rhino poaching related offences, while a third man received only four years.

Sam Khosa (40) and Oddis Maluleke (46), a South African and Mozambican, will spend an effective 22 years behind bars. A second South African, Solly Bennett Selahle (30), was sentenced to four years for conspiracy to commit a crime.

The three were arrested in the Kruger National Park on February 15, 2019, along with a Kruger field ranger, Phillip Gumede (39), who was also arrested as an accomplice. Gumede has since passed away after having fallen ill sick during the trial.


The four men were travelling in two cars, a VW Polo and a Hyundai, when they were intercepted along the road between Skukuza and the Kruger Gate. The regional ranger, who had reason to suspect foul play, had called for back-up, which led to the discovery of the incriminating items and the subsequent arrest. The operation was conducted by various stakeholders: SANParks with its helicopter, some SAPS members, dog handlers and members of the SANDF.

“Upon searching the Hyundai, one hunting rifle with some ammunition, one rhino horn, two knives and some clothing items were discovered,” said a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli.

The three faced nine charges between them, including trespassing in the Kruger, contravention of the Immigration Act, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, possession of a prohibited firearm with its serial number obliterated, conspiracy to commit crime, the illegal hunting of a a rhino, possession of ammunition without a licence and possession of a dangerous weapon.

“As the case continued at the Skukuza Regional Court, the field ranger passed away, leaving behind the other three men to face the music,” said Mdhluli.

Maluleke and Khosa were sentenced to a total of 34 years each. However, the court ordered that the sentences for at least five of the counts run concurrently. This reduced it to an effective 22 years behind bars.

Neither of the two Mozambican nationals were convicted for the contravention of the Immigration.

https://www.citizen.co.za/lowvelder/new ... usjfxAring

[Lisbeth]

Wasn't the Skukuza court supposed to be quicker than others regarding poaching? Five years is quite a long time for a simple case like the above.