Rhino accused loses appeal for bail

PRETORIA: Rhino poaching was condemned by the South African public as well as across the world. In addition, the statistics that about 4 000 of these animals were killed between 2008 and January this year were worrisome.

This was according to Judge Bert Bam, sitting in the high court in Pretoria, in a judgment citing his reasons for denying bail to alleged rhino poaching kingpin Hugo Ras. In January, a Pretoria magistrate refused Ras bail and he turned to the high court to appeal against this finding.

But Judge Bam found that the magistrate did not err in refusing Ras bail. Ras was allegedly part of a rhino poaching syndicate facing 248 charges, which include money laundering, contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, theft and the trade in rhino horns.

Of the 10 accused, Ras and his brother-in-law, Abraham Smit, did not receive bail. They were all arrested last year during a countrywide operation led by the Hawks. Ras’s wife Trudie is among the accused who received bail. It is claimed that the alleged syndicate killed 24 rhinos between 2008 and 2012, involving horns to the value of about R16 million.

The State said it had a watertight case, with a number of witnesses ready to take the stand. An investigating officer testified that Ras said he was “covered”, as some of these witnesses were his friends.

Ras presented 24 objections to the 40-page judgment delivered by the magistrate in January. Judge Bam said most of these objections were vague and non-specific.

Ras also said it was unfair that eight of his co-accused were released, but he had to remain in jail awaiting trial.

Judge Bam said he could not find that the magistrate over-emphasised the alleged crimes. He said the investigating officer submitted several damning affidavits.

Ras, on the other hand, simply denied all the allegations. Judge Bam agreed with the magistrate that, “it seems as if the appellant (Ras) just cannot stay out of trouble”.

Several of his previous convictions related to crimes involving wild animals.