Rhino Poaching 2015

[Moggiedog]

as usual another frustrating long day in court
Court was postponed for two hours as they forgot to bring Hugo Rass from Jail!!!

Then was postponed for another two hours as another case was being heard -


Thanks to Allison for the updates - from court
Allison Thomson Court is in session
4 hrs · Like

Allison Thomson Prosecutor going through each accused and detailing whether or not they have asked for further particulars or not.
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Allison Thomson Magistrate is asking each of the accused attorneys whether they will be asking for further particulars and enquiring as to whether their clients have secured funding for their defence etc.
4 hrs · Like · 1

Allison Thomson Anton Ras has appointed new attorneys and they may still ask for further particulars but will not delay the matter going to the High Court.
4 hrs · Like · 2

Allison Thomson Problem nows lies with Hugo, Trudi and Anton as the Prosecutor cannot go to the Supreme Court and ask for a court date without having taking care of Further Particulars from these 3. This case cannot be held up by these three as it is not fair on the other accused.
4 hrs · Like · 3

Allison Thomson Ras's lawyers are saying that he cannot focus on reading the 6000 dossier of affidavits for the case until he has finished doing the bail appeal as he is using his time to focus on that and then only can he focus on putting in a request for further particulars.
4 hrs · Like · 2

Allison Thomson There is also an issue of funds for Hgo and TrUni. Persecutor has suggested that in the meantime they should at least apply for legal aid for the case in case they cannot afford private counsel after the bail appeal is finished. Prosecutor is saying that there is no guarantee that if this is delayed again that the next time they appear that the same excuses will be used to delay the case again.
3 hrs · Like

Allison Thomson It was accused 1,2 & 9 that delayed the case last time. The attorney for the accused is asking for another 2 months.
2 hrs · Edited · Like

Allison Thomson Accused nine wants to make an appication to have his bail conditions changed. He has to report on Wednesday and Friday every week at the police station and wants to have it changed to once a week. This will be heard on another date.
3 hrs · Like

Allison Thomson court is adjourned. When I get home I will post all the new court dates for each different application
3 hrs · Like · 5



New court dates for the Ras syndicate are as follows:
14 September - all the accused will appear for a date to be set down in the High Court for the case to be heard.
10 July - Accused 1 & 2 to appear in Pretoria Magistrate's Court (after the Bail appeal that will take place between now and then - Col Jooste will notify me when a date has been set to hear Hugo's bail appeal).
21 July - Accused 5 to appear in Pretoria Magistrate's court
23 June - Accused 2,9 & 10 to appear to have bail conditions modified.
1. Hugo Ras (Ringleader)
2, Trudi Ras (wife of Ringleader)
3. Mandla Magaguka (poacher)
4. Willie Oosthuizen (Organized Crime)
5. Joseph Wilkinson (Attorney)
6. Jacobus Steyn aka Bonnie Steyn (Pilot)
7. Abraham Johannes Smit (Trudi Ras's brother)
8. Christopher Scheepers aka Mathys (Free State)
9. Anton Ras (brother of Hugo)
10. Willem van Jaarsveld ( Poacher )

[Richprins]

The boom gates are a good idea! The operators must just be spotless!

Thanks again, Moggie!

[Polentswa]

Have they erected the gallows yet in the main street for the inevitable public Hanging ..I wish

[Richprins]

Maybe that's another use for the boom gates too?

[Flutterby]

Thanks MD.

The boom gates are a move in the right direction finally!

[Flutterby]

Apparently 2 rhino were killed near Satara yesterday!

[PennyinSA]

It appears that there were 3 rhino killed very close to Satara on the main tar road. Now given that there is a span of somewhere in the order of 45 klms either way to the nearest fenceline then sadly one has to draw the conclusion that these rhino were poached by somebody posing as a tourist or alternatively that somebody from the staff village has to be involved. My son drove past yesterday and phoned me this morning to say that it is an extremely disturbing sight. Given his qualifications and involvement in the industry he passed the comment that he felt that these carcasses should not be allowed to be viewed by the public as already there has been a certain level of desensitising of opinion and that he felt that the negatives outweighed the positives of the public actually seeing this. He also brought up the subject of how long it would be given where this poaching took place before an innocent member of the public is caught up in a poaching and that the repercussions and ramifications of this happening were too awful to contemplate!

[Richprins]

Won't be a "tourist"...it would have happened at night, so traceable. Staff, SAPS or SANDF, or somebody with a deal regarding sneaking through Orpen gate, or all of the above.

Once you have some or all of the above factors involved, it is quite easy, obviously. Wait at the sighting, phone a buddy or do the shooting yourself after gates close...especially if an official vehicle...unexpected witnesses arrive and you say you are handling the scene...

Too much driving around after dark, hence the boom gates.

[nan]

[Bushcraft]

Too much driving around after dark, hence the boom gates.

Agreed, but this all just points to a general lack of control all round and now booms gates are supposed to fix it