Rhino poaching accused get bail

2010-09-07 17:15

Lephalale - Five suspected rhino poachers appeared in the Lephalale Magistrate's Court in Limpopo on Tuesday and were granted R10 000 bail each.

Patricia Mukwhevho, 30, Secret Cutama, 29, Rhinus Makhadu, 28, Louis Musekwa, 31, and Abram Kgalushi, 33, face charges of unlawful hunting of protected wild species and the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The suspects, who are all from Louis Trichardt, are allegedly linked to at least eight cases of rhino poaching that took place in the Makhado area earlier this year.

“The hunting rifle that was found in their possession has been linked to other rhino poaching crimes,” confirmed Limpopo provincial police spokesperson Ronel Otto.

The suspects were arrested on Ferroland Private Game Reserve near Lephalale late last month.

An unlicensed .308 hunting rifle with its serial number filed off, as well as five rounds of ammunition, were confiscated.

The suspects have not been asked to plead and their case was postponed to November 3.

- African Eye