Alleged poaching ringleader stays in jail

2011-09-01 19:09

Johannesburg - Bail was denied to the alleged leader of a rhino hunting syndicate by the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court on Thursday, the SA Revenue Service (Sars) said.

The magistrate refused bail to Chumlong Lemtongthai as he said it was not in the interests of justice to release him, spokesman Adrian Lackay said.

The bail application began on Wednesday, but was adjourned to Thursday for the magistrate to consider the relevant documents.

He would appear in court again on September 15.

Lemtongthai, 43, was arrested after John Olivier, a Thai Airways manager who allegedly worked with the syndicate, decided to inform authorities of its activities.

Olivier told police that a game farmer, Marnus Steyl, would apparently source rhinos for "canned hunting", then inform Lemtongthai. Steyl told Beeld newspaper his role was entirely above board.

Lemtongthai then allegedly contacted one Punpitak Chunchom, telling him "hunters" were needed to shoot these rhino.

Chunchom - who has since left South Africa after pleading guilty to illegal possession of lion bones - would recruit Thai strippers and prostitutes to pose with the rhino carcasses.

Lemtongthai allegedly organised permits and covered the costs of the operation.

The horns would be dried and "sold" to front company Xaysavang Trading Export Import - owned by Lemtongthai -- for about R65 000/kg. They would then be sold on the Asian black market for between $35 000/kg (about R247 900) and $55 000/kg (about R389 600).

Using this method, loopholes in legislation allowing "trophy hunting" and regulations limiting hunting to one rhino per hunter per year were exploited.

Lackay said this aspect of the case concerned Sars.

Lemtongthai was the only member of the alleged syndicate to be charged. Gender and environmental activists gathered at the court ahead of Lemtongthai's bail application. An animal rights group displayed pictures of butchered rhino carcasses.

On Wednesday, the ANC Women's League displayed placards reading "Real Men Don't Shoot Rhinos".

They wore green tape over their mouths in protest against the role Thai prostitutes were allegedly forced to play in the syndicate's activities.

- SAPA