Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Richprins]

• On Sunday, a Mozambican national was apprehended with a .375 hunting rifle in his possession, also in the Tshokwane section of the KNP. Although no horns were found in his possession, a rhino carcass was discovered nearby and it is suspected that he had killed the animal. He will appear in the White River Magistrate’s Court today.

http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/co ... s-soldiers

[H. erectus]

Rhino poaching is taxing on the .gov!!

Four SAND members die in heli crash!!

SA is paying a heavy price for what can
be deemed " a international heritage""

.Gov it only goes to show that your values
in life are not neccessarilly fitting other
values in life.

[Sprocky]

2013-04-05 10:25

Johannesburg - A former policeman accused of being the head of a rhino horn smuggling syndicate attacked a journalist when he appeared in the Middelburg court, The Citizen reported on Friday.

Moments after Middelburg Observer journalist Jana Boshoff took a photo of Joseph Nyalungu he hit her with documents clutched in his hand, according to the report.

He then attempted to strike her on the face but Boshoff stood back and avoided the blow.

He also grabbed Boshoff's camera, but a fellow journalist jumped to her defence.

The incident was reported to magistrate Andreas Mastourades shortly before proceedings - where a total of 13 suspects appeared on charges relating to rhino horn smuggling.

13 accused

Another accused, Elijah Ngubeni, was added to the existing 12 accused on the charge sheet.

Nyalungu appeared together with fellow South Africans Conrad Nkuna, a policeman, and Happy Sello Zitha.

The other accused are Vietnamese and Mozambican nationals.

The charges include trading in protected wildlife, money laundering, drug possession, housebreaking, house robbery, employing illegal immigrants, providing assistance to illegal immigrants, possession of stolen property, theft and conspiracy to commit a crime.

The case was postponed until June because transcripts of telephone conversations, as well as other documents, have not yet been made available.

- SAPA

[Richprins]

Nyalungu is a fat bastard. Wish he would try and take a swing at a man!

[iNdlovu]

That kind of jerk wouldn't dare.

[Richprins]

Mr Mabunda said that two traffic officers had been dismissed in the KNP and one gate official, who had allowed unauthorised access to the park. Four rangers had been dismissed, and there were more cases under investigation. DEA was aware of the revenue position. Grant funding was provided for infrastructure.



Read here:

viewtopic.php?f=197&t=2169

[Richprins]

Looklocal/Lowvelder:



Attempted poacher to serve nine years in jail

11 April 2013 | Tereasa Ferrari

WHITE RIVER - A man received a nine-year jail sentence on April 3 in the local Periodic Court for attempting to poach in the Kruger National Park (KNP). Adriano Lamula (27) who is a Mozambican citizen, was found guilty for trespassing in the park, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

On April 29 last year SANPark rangers came accross Lamula's tracks in the reserve and tracked the spoor via helicopter. They caught Lamula with a firearm in his possession and was immediately arrested. Lamula appeared in the White River Periodic Court and was found guilty on three charges.

Magistrate Ms Winnie Baloyi handed down the sentences: for trespassing in the park a fine of R5 000 or a one-year suspended sentence, for the charge of an unlicensed firearm, a fine of R100 000 or five years' imprisonment and for the ammunition, R60 000 or three years' imprisonment.

Lamula was financially unable to pay for the fines and was held in custody to serve the nine-year jail sentence.


http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/co ... rs-in-jail

[Flutterby]

Eyewitness News
Govan Whittles
15 April 2013



Six foreign nationals arrested for rhino poaching will appear in court on Wednesday.

JOHANNESBURG - Limpopo police on Monday arrested six men in connection with rhino poaching at a private game farm near Naboomspruit.

The men are accused of dehorning two rhino at the Tamboti Floodland Farm in April.

One of the rhino was killed while the other survived the attack.

It is still recovering from two bullet wounds.

According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, more than 150 rhino have already been killed in South Africa during 2013.

Police spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi said all of the men were foreign nationals.

“We are still busy with the suspects, all of who are from Mozambique. They are aged between 32 and 34.”

The suspects will appear in the Naboomspruit Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

According to police, two AK47 rifles were confiscated during the operation.

[Toko]

Two women arrested for conspiracy to poach rhinos

Newcastle Organised Crime makes another breakthrough with regards to this nefarious crime.

29 April 2013 | Estella Naicker


Skilful and timeous intervention by the Newcastle Organised Crime Unit, yielded a triumphant breakthrough in the relentless battle against rhino poaching.

Two women, preparing to have two rhinos at the Weenen Game Reserve killed and dehorned for the princely sum of R500 000, were arrested by members of the unit on Wednesday.

Abrie de Klerk, a member of the Newcastle Organised Crime Unit and an integral part of the investigation, said members of the public had informed them that the women were offering rhino horns for sale in early April.

An undercover police officer was tasked with meeting with the women and negotiating to purchase the horns.

Three weeks of engaging with the women led to the recovery of a rifle with two rounds of ammunition, and both women were charged with illegal possession of the firearm, and conspiracy to hunt rhinos.

The women, who hatched up the ‘get rich quick’ plan, were apparently neighbours in the Weenen area and otherwise unemployed. They are expected to make their next court appearance at the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Police now hope to identify the game ranger who had been assisting the women with their nefarious plan.

Ballistic testing will reveal if the rifle that was confiscated can be linked to other incidents of rhino poaching.

“I am certain that the women will face a stiff sentence in court,” said Officer de Klerk.
Official figures from the Department of Environmental Affairs reveal that 249 rhinos have been poached in South Africa so far this year, 18 in KwaZulu-Natal alone, and there have been 78 arrests this year in connection with rhino poaching, 13 in KwaZulu-Natal.

Residents who have information that can help bring the unnecessary bloodshed of South Africa’s dwindling rhino population to an end are urged to contact Officer de Klerk urgently on 071 481 3454.

[Toko]

I really wish they would report the number of successfully concluded prosecutions, with sentences meted out. Now THAT may prove a deterrent!

Some info is available (not much) :


From the Progress Report on Rhino Poaching - Portfolio Committee Meeting 20 March 2013







From SANParks Programme of the PCWEA February 2013