Ex-cop in SA court for rhino horns
Aformer Botswana Police Service officer and three other suspects appeared before Sannieshof Periodical Court on Thursday after they were arrested in possession of two rhino horns and a rifle silencer near Sannieshof in the North West Province recently.
North West provincial spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh confirmed the quartet’s arrest in an interview with The Monitor. Myburgh said Johane Marumo, 42, Douglas Mathamba, 51, Keagile Rakanang, 37, and Emmanuel Obini, 34, were arrested on October 18. The other three suspects are a Nigerian resident of Vryburg, a Zimbabwean national and a South African.
“Police in Sannieshof received information that they followed up leading them to a white Volkswagen Polo with four occupants along N14 Road,
Sannieshof. The vehicle was stopped and searched and during the search two rhino horns and a rifle silencer were found in the vehicle. After failing to account for the rhino horns and a rifle silencer, the suspects were arrested and their vehicle was impounded,” Myburgh said.
Myburgh further stated that the accused persons were remanded in custody and will appear again before court on October 31. The Monitor has learnt that the former officer had previously been arrested for rhino poaching.
The provincial commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena is said to have applauded the Sannieshof Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit, visible policing, detectives, community patrollers, Vryburg flying squad, Vryburg K9, and Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management members for their teamwork and diligence that led to the quartet’s arrest.