http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/medicross-founder-due-in-court-1.1063369

MediCross founder due in court

May 3 2011 at 08:45am

The founder of the MediCross group, Walter Ward, and his farm manager, Saki Kekana, were expected to appear in a Limpopo court on Tuesday on charges of illegal possession of firearms.

The pair were arrested on Ward's farm near Mookgophong (Naboomspruit) at the weekend where a rhino and her calf were found shot dead and stripped of their horns.

The four-month-old calf also had its toenails pulled out.

Ward was informed of the rhino poaching on his farm after he was released on bail.

He and Kekana were arrested in a police raid on the farm on Friday evening after unlicensed firearms, a pistol and hunting rifles, as well as 1944 rounds of ammunition, were found.

Ward said he was arrested despite showing the police documentation that he had applied for the necessary firearm licences but that he was still waiting for feedback from the police.

Ward's lawyer, Wilhelm Botes, said Judge Hans Fabricious ruled on Saturday that Ward and Kekana be released on bail.

But a few hours after his ruling, the judge had to call the investigating officer himself to find out why the pair had not been released yet.

They were eventually released around 8pm on Saturday and were expected to appear in the Mookgophong Magistrate's Court again on Tuesday, reported Beeld. - Sapa