Cops: Suicide won't impede rhino case

2010-11-10 22:31

Polokwane - Limpopo police say the death of an alleged rhino horn dealer on Tuesday night will not have a negative impact on their investigation into poaching in the province.

Tommy Fourie, 51, who was out on R5 000 bail after he was charged in September in connection with the illegal sale of 36 rhino horns, is thought to have committed suicide on Tuesday evening on a farm outside Musina.

"Fourie's death is bad news, but our investigations are at an advanced stage and there is a strong possibility that we'll be able to make more arrests in the near future," said police spokesperson Ronel Otto on Wednesday.

Fourie was the manager on a privately-owned game farm called Marinani.

According to Otto, he went missing on Tuesday afternoon from the farm's homestead.

"His family looked for him for some hours until they found him on a small hill at about 18:00.

"He had a gunshot wound to the forehead, which suggests that he had committed suicide using his licensed .38 special revolver that was lying next to him," said Otto.

A distant family member, who did not want to be named, suggested that Fourie did not have a financial incentive for being involved in rhino poaching.

"It is very strange that Tom would be involved in rhino poaching while he was earning a good salary of R80 000 a month from his bosses, who are staying in Denmark."

- African Eye