Vets in court over drugs linked to rhino poaching
Game capture expert Douw Grobler examines Namib's missing piece of tusk. © Picture by Rudi Bliggenstorfer.
Three vets and five other men were expected to appear in court on Wednesday in connection with the wrongful possession and distribution of veterinary drugs commonly used in rhino poaching.
They face charges of contravening the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act.
The accused are Douw Grobler, formerly head of the Kruger National Park's wildlife capturing and veterinary services unit, state vet Dr Buti John Chibase, and private vet Johannes Gerhardus Kruger.
The other five are professional hunters Hugo Ras, Matthys Christoffel Scheepers, Riaal Booysen, Johan Carl Heydenrych, and Christoffel Francois Naude.
All were arrested between August and November last year.
The matter was transferred from the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court to the Pretoria North Regional Court during the men's previous court appearances in April.
The men were released in February on bail of between R1 000 and R5 000 each.
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