Two suspects who were caught with rhino horns with an estimated value of R2.9m in 2018 were on Monday sentenced to effective jail terms of 15 years each.
The Kempton Park regional court imposed the sentences on Ntsako Miaas Maluleke, 37, and Phanuel Vutivi Chabalala, 36, after finding them guilty of receiving, possessing, transporting and exporting rhino horns in contravention of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act.
Maluleke and Chabalala were arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on August 18 2018 while en route to Vietnam with two boxes containing 27 rhino horns. The total weight of the horns was 29.47kg.
“They were granted bail of R2,000 each on August 20 2018. While on bail they both absconded in September 2019 and were traced and rearrested in 2020 in Vhuwani,” Hawks spokesperson Col Katlego Mogale said.
TimesLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.