THE hard work of members of the South African Police Service in Limpopo paid off when two harsh sentences were handed down in two separate cases - one of rhino poaching at Naboomspruit and the other of dealing in drugs at Mokopane.
The case of rhino poaching stems from an incident on the farm Vlakfontein at Naboomspruit in November last year, when rangers on the farm heard shots and called the police to tail the suspects.
"Together they patrolled the farm and discovered a rhino cow that had been shot and killed and had both horns removed. They followed tracks and found four suspects on the farm.
"Three of them fled but one suspect, Edmore Simione Siganque, was arrested. A bloodied axe was found in his possession. The axe was sent for DNA testing and when the results came back, it linked him positively to the incident," said police spokeswoman LieutenantColonel Ronel Otto yesterday.
Otto said Siganque appeared in the Naboomspruit Magistrate's Court on Wednesday on charges of the illegal hunting of specially protected animals as well as trespassing. Otto said Siganque was sentenced to 12 years for illegal hunting and to one year for trespassing.
Meanwhile, in Mokopane, two suspects, Jack Chokoe and Folic Nare, appeared on three and five counts, respectively, of dealing in drugs.
"They were arrested late last year following an intensive investigation by the Hawks in Limpopo after serious problems with drug trafficking were identified in Mokopane, mainly crack cocaine. The dealers were both sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment," she said.
Otto said both men were part of a group of suspects arrested last year for drug trafficking. She said the main suspect was Johannes Sello Tabudi, who used the accused as his runners.
"Tabudi is scheduled to appear in court again on April 15. Two other suspects in the group, Chukwudolue Daniel Kemechuku, a Nigerian, and Ashley Kekane will appear in court again on March 20."
The provincial commissioner of Limpopo SAPS, LieutenantGeneral Simon Mpembe, lauded the investigators for their work.
Poachers, cocaine dealers convicted
THE hard work of members of the South African Police Service in Limpopo paid off when two harsh sentences were handed down in two separate cases - one of rhino poaching at Naboomspruit and the other of dealing in drugs at Mokopane.
The case of rhino poaching stems from an incident on the farm Vlakfontein at Naboomspruit in November last year, when rangers on the farm heard shots and called the police to tail the suspects.
"Together they patrolled the farm and discovered a rhino cow that had been shot and killed and had both horns removed. They followed tracks and found four suspects on the farm.
"Three of them fled but one suspect, Edmore Simione Siganque, was arrested. A bloodied axe was found in his possession. The axe was sent for DNA testing and when the results came back, it linked him positively to the incident," said police spokeswoman LieutenantColonel Ronel Otto yesterday.
Otto said Siganque appeared in the Naboomspruit Magistrate's Court on Wednesday on charges of the illegal hunting of specially protected animals as well as trespassing. Otto said Siganque was sentenced to 12 years for illegal hunting and to one year for trespassing.
Meanwhile, in Mokopane, two suspects, Jack Chokoe and Folic Nare, appeared on three and five counts, respectively, of dealing in drugs.
"They were arrested late last year following an intensive investigation by the Hawks in Limpopo after serious problems with drug trafficking were identified in Mokopane, mainly crack cocaine. The dealers were both sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment," she said.
Otto said both men were part of a group of suspects arrested last year for drug trafficking. She said the main suspect was Johannes Sello Tabudi, who used the accused as his runners.
"Tabudi is scheduled to appear in court again on April 15. Two other suspects in the group, Chukwudolue Daniel Kemechuku, a Nigerian, and Ashley Kekane will appear in court again on March 20."
The provincial commissioner of Limpopo SAPS, LieutenantGeneral Simon Mpembe, lauded the investigators for their work.
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