No progress in poaching syndicate case

THREE years after alleged rhino poaching kingpin Hugo Ras and eight of his co-accused were arrested, there has not been progress in the case deemed to be the biggest criminal case of its kind to date.

The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria was told on Friday that it was not known when the trial would start. One of the defence lawyers said there were even suggestions that when it eventually started, the trial could last for up to 10 years.

The case was to start in July last year, but was postponed time and again as some of the accused were challenging law relating to the possession and selling of rhino-related items.

The bulk of the accused complained bitterly that their rights were being infringed as the trial was taking so long to get under way. Ras, the only one of the nine accused to be awaiting trial in jail as he was refused bail, claimed his rights were being trampled on.

His lawyer said by March next year, Ras would have been in jail for four years. To make it worse, the court was told, Ras had no idea how long he would still have to remain in jail as it was unclear when the legal challenge regarding the provisions regulating rhino trade, would be concluded.

But prosecutor Joanie Spies said the State was ready to proceed with the criminal trial. “There will be no one happier than myself and my witnesses if the trial could start,” she said.

Ras, who owned a safari company and his co-accused are facing 284 charges involving alleged rhino poaching and the alleged possession and transporting of rhino horn. Other charges involve money laundering and racketeering.

Ras’ wife Trudie, his brother-in-law Abraham Smith, a warrant-officer from the Hawks, Willie Oosthuizen and alleged main rhino hunter Mandla Magagula are among the accused.

Ras is meanwhile set to turn to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein in his latest bid to be released.