Arrest of ‘rhino baron’ John Hume hailed
SA ‘rhino baron’ John Hume raised the world’s biggest private herd of more than 2 000 rhinos, betting to make a fortune by selling their horns legally to traders in the Far East.
However, two years ago he was forced to sell his rhinos after failing to overturn an international ban on the sale of rhino horns from this increasingly threatened species.
Yesterday, he appeared in the dock with five other suspects, facing more than 50 criminal charges centred around allegations of theft, fraud and ‘possible racketeering and money laundering’.
The Daily Maverick reports that the 83-year-old former property developer was released on R100 000 bail after appearing in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court.
With him in the dock were two attorneys, Izak du Toit and Elizabeth Catharina van Niekerk; former rhino ranch manager Johannes Hennop; insurance broker Mattheus Pogenpoel; and Clive John Melville, a relative who has previously been charged with forging a document to falsely authorise the transport of rhino horns belonging to Hume.
The state has charged the two attorneys for assisting with the permit applications, arguing that they knew or ought to have known that the permit applications were not legitimate.
Netwerk24 reports that the state submitted an affidavit from the investigating officer, Captain Edward du Plessis, as part of the bail application.
The latter said the accused ‘used their money and power in the community to influence public opinion’.
Hume actively campaigned at Cites for the decriminalisation of rhino horn trade as a measure to curb rhino poaching.
The NPA says all six suspects are alleged to be involved in an illegal rhino horn trafficking syndicate.
It said between 2017 and 2024, the accused allegedly operated an international rhino horn trafficking syndicate and defrauded the Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment, notes DM.
‘They allegedly obtained permits to trade rhino horn locally, while intending to channel the horns into illegal international markets in Southeast Asia. The fraudulent scheme is estimated to involve 964 rhino horns valued at R250m.’
Environment Minister Dion George hailed the arrests of Hume and his colleagues as a ‘decisive victory in SA’s fight against international wildlife crime.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
