THE fight against poaching continues unabated and yesterday, concerted efforts between conservation authorities and SAPS yielded another success.
Carmona Armando Ngovene, the Mozambican national arrested inside Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) last year, was sentenced to an effective five years in prison.
Reacting to a police crime intelligence tip-off, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) rangers, with the EKZNW Rhino Operations Unit, deployed inside HiP and placed themselves strategically according to the police information.
At about 8.30pm three suspects entered the reserve, near Memorial Gate. Rangers confronted the suspects and, after firing a warning shot, arrested Ngovene who was carrying a .375 heavy calibre rifle with silencer.
The other two fled. A search revealed a bag containing an axe, knives, screwdrivers, dustbin bags and other poaching-related implements.
Ngovene was charged with the illegal possession of a .375 rifle, the illegal possession of .375 rifle cartridges and trespassing on land on which game is likely to be found.
Pleading not guilty throughout the trial, Ngovene denied being in possession of the weapon and said the other two suspects had forced him through the park’s fence and that he ‘knew not where he was’.
Convicting Ngovene on all counts, Judge De Klerk said the evidence against him was overwhelming and he was caught red-handed.
‘I am sure that if Ngovene had not been arrested that night, HiP would have been short of at least one rhino,’ said De Klerk.
Despite the short prison sentence, EKZNW Rhino Operations Unit Manager, Lawrence Munro, considers the conviction a success and said it is the result of a concerted effort between EKZNW Hluhluwe rangers and Rhino Operations Unit working together with SAPS.
‘We are grateful for the assistance rendered by Mtubatuba Regional Court for the outcome of this case,’ said Munro.
* For more stories go to the Rhino Diaries HERE
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