ERMELO – The Ermelo Regional Court convicted Ntsaku Prince Letswele (27) on July 1, after he was arrested twice for the possession of rhino horns.
Acsu Security Services and the local police arrested Letswele and his co-accused, Junior Jorge Chauke (42), on December 8, 2022.
Based on the information they had, Acsu and the SAPS took action, having a number of trucks park over the road near Acasia to block it off.
“As soon as the suspects saw the blockade, they stopped their vehicle next to the road, jumped out and fled in different directions,” Oubaas de Jager of Acsu previously told Highvelder.
The two suspects were caught. The Secunda Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit was summoned and the crime scene was handed over to them for processing.
According to Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, the Hawks’ spokesperson, the vehicle, a bakkie, was searched and six rhino horns with an estimated value of R876 000 were found and confiscated.
The duo appeared in court on several occasions and were later respectively released on bail.
Letswele was rearrested in an eMkhondo criminal case while on bail.
“On 9 March 2023, the police received information about a white Nissan Qashqai on the R543 towards eMkhondo carrying rhino horns. The vehicle was spotted, stopped and searched,” Sekgotodi said.
The police found two rhino horns to the value of R607 260. The suspect was arrested, charged and detained.
“During preliminary investigations, it was established that the accused was previously arrested and released on bail for similar charges and he was detained and bail denied until he was found guilty in the Ermelo Regional Court.”
He was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment, of which six years is suspended for a period of five years on conditions.
ALSO READ: ACSU and police apprehend suspects believed to be in possession of rhino horn near Ermelo
The court ordered that the horns in question be forfeited to the State.
His co-accused, Chauke, appeared in court on several occasions, but later absconded. A warrant for his arrest was authorised on March 1, and he is still at large.
The provincial Hawks head, Major General Nicolas Gerber, requested Chauke to come forward and hand himself over to the authorities. He also requested members of the public with information of Chauke’s whereabouts to contact the investigating officer on 082 303 9965.
Gerber assured the public that all information received will be dealt with confidentially.
