One of 10 alleged members of a rhino poaching syndicate, who hails from Krugersdorp, is applying for bail. He is wanted by the FBI as well.
Abraham Johannes Smit, 36 has a $1,1 million (around R12,3 million) default judgment against him in California, writes Daily News reporter, Kamcilla Pillay.
The Daily News investigation team has found that Smit, known as Arno, is suspected of fleeing the USA to dodge criminal charges.
In an article they say that for more than three years the Krugersdorp resident has been pursued by Interpol and the FBI for various alleged crimes, including six counts of wire fraud and fleeing criminal prosecution. The FBI’s public information officer, special agent Gina Swankie, confirmed last week that Smit had been a fugitive for years.
“He is wanted. He has been for a while. We issued a warrant for his arrest on a charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution (UFAP),” she says.
This was a general warrant issued for any fugitive at large, she says.
Swankie explains, “Smit is wanted by the federal government for six counts of wire fraud; he was indicted on January 6, 2011. When he fled post indictment, it precipitated the UFAP warrant.”
She says he was indicted on the six counts in the US District Court for the Eastern District of California (a federal court) in relation to alleged investment fraud.
Swankie did not elaborate on the alleged wire fraud.
According to Daily News, Smit and nine other suspects, among them a police officer and a lawyer, were arrested two weeks ago in four provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal.
The group appeared on 318 allegations including theft, fraud, malicious damage to property (related to the killing and mutilation of rhinos), money laundering, intimidation, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Click here for the full article.
