POLOKWANE – Limpopo game farmer Dawie Groenewald and his younger brother, Janneman, have been indicted in the US on 18 charges relating to illegal rhino hunting.
They are to face charges under several US laws, including the Lacey Act that makes it a criminal act to knowingly sell wildlife that was taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of US and foreign laws.
The act addresses poaching and illegal trafficking, making it a crime to sell animal hunts conducted in violation of state, federal, tribal and foreign law.
Groenewald is alleged to be the kingpin in a case in South Africa, He, his wife, and nine other people were charged with 1 736 counts of racketeering, money laundering, fraud, intimidation, illegal hunting and dealing in rhino horn.
The US department of justice last week announced that Groenewald and his younger brother would be charged with conspiracy to sell illegal rhino hunts in South Africa in order to defraud American hunters, money-laundering, contravening the Lacey Act, aiding and abetting, mail fraud and structuring bank deposits to avoid reporting requirements.
According to the indictment documentation, a copy of which is in Review’s possession, Janneman was living in Autauga, Alabama at the time these alleged crimes were said to have taken place, and was co-owner of the company Valinor Trading CC trading as Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris.
The alleged offences took place from 2005 to at least 2010.
The indictment states that the brothers travelled across the US, attended hunting conventions and gun shows and sold their outfitting services and accommodation to American hunters to take place on their ranch in Musina. Hunters allegedly paid between $3 500 (± R37 900) and $15 000 (±R162 700) for these illegal rhino hunts. Hunters were reportedly told the rhinos were problem animals and/or a “menace”. Permits were allegedly also not obtained for the hunts.
The indictment goes on to say that although no trophy could be legally exported, the hunters could shoot the rhino and pose for a picture with the dead animal, make record entries, all at a reduced price.
The indictment further alleges that the defendants sold rhino horn on the black market.
Eleven illegal hunts are detailed in the indictment filed in federal court, including one in which the rhino had to be shot and killed after being repeatedly wounded by an arrow, and another in which Dawie allegedly used a chainsaw to remove the horn from a sedated rhino that had been hunted with a tranquilliser gun. The American hunters have not been charged.
Dawie declined to comment on the matter, saying he had no comment. The brothers are currently in Limpopo and have not been extradited as yet.
