Suspected poachers want to attend hunting fair in USA
Marietie Louw-Carstens
MUSINA. � Two of the 13 members of a suspected rhino poaching syndicate apprehended in Limpopo earlier this year will spend thousands in order to attend a hunting fair in America next year.
Mr Tielman Erasmus (32) and Gys du Preez (31), both professional hunters, yesterday made an application to the Musina magistrates' court to have their bail conditions amended.
Adv. Joanie Spies, state prosecutor, said the men had applied, amongst others, to have their passports returned to them. The state did not oppose the application. An agreement was reached with the defense whereby Erasmus and Du Preez will each pay R20000 to have their passports returned to them. They will be attending more than one hunting fair in America from 10 January onwards.
Spies said that their travel plans would be studied and if the state was satisfied, their passports would be returned to them.
Upon their return from this visit to America, they would have to hand in their passports within three working days.
Erasmus and Du Preez work for Mr Dawie Groenewald (42), owner of Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris and suspected kingpin of the suspected syndicate. Erasmus and Groenewald were arrested in September after an investigation by the National Prosecuting Authority and the Department of Environmental Affairs.
Groenewald, owner of the farm Prachtig ("Beautiful") in the Musina-district, is out on bail of R1 million. His wife, Sariette (34) was released on R100000 bail.
Dr. Karel Toet (45), a well-known veterinary surgeon in Modimolle (Nylstroom), was released on bail of R50000. His wife, Marisa (35), was released on R20000 bail. The rest of the accused are Dr Manie du Plessis (34), Toet's partner, and Mr Dewald Gouws, a pilot, Nardus Rossouw, Leon van der Merwe and Paul Matoromela.
All except Matoromela were released on R20000 bail. Matoromela's bail was set at R5000.
Du Preez and Mr Joseph Maluleka (39) were arrested in October. Du Preez was released on bail of R25000 and Maluleka on bail of R80000.
All the accused appeared in court on charges of fraud, deliberate damage to property, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, contravention of the Environmental Act, organized crime, and contravention of the Medicines Act and regulated substances. All were allegedly involved in the killing of rhinos and the removal and selling of rhino horns. They must appear in the magistrates' court in Musina on 11 April.
