Ermelo court sentences repeat offender to 18 years for rhino horn crimes

The Ermelo Regional Court has convicted Ntsaku Prince Letswele (27) for being in possession of rhino horns.

Acsu Security Services (Acsu) 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, parking trucks 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 from Acsu previously told Highvelder.

The crime scene was handed over to the Secunda Hawks for processing.

According to Hawks’ spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, the bakkie was searched and six rhino horns with an estimated value of R876 000 were found and confiscated.

The duo appeared in court several times and were released on bail.

Letswele was rearrested in connection with an eMkhondo criminal case while out on bail.

“On March 9, 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 says.

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 [on similar charges] and released on bail… He was detained and bail denied.”

Letswele was found guilty in the Ermelo Regional Court on Monday.

He was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment, of which six years is suspended for five years on conditions.

The court ordered that the horns be forfeited to the state.

Chauke appeared in court several times but later absconded. A warrant for his arrest was authorised on March 1, and he is still at large.