MBOMBELA – A former South African National Defence Force soldier – Boet Mashego (49) and an accomplice, Michael Sithole (46), have just been found guilty on 13 counts relating to rhino poaching performed in the Kruger National Park (KNP) in 2010.
Verdict was given in local Magistrate’s Court and magistrate Mr André Gedenhuys was the presiding officer. The counts against the men included unlawful entry into Kruger, hunting of a rhino, theft of four rhino horns, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
Geldenhuys explained that the court found the four witnesses, which included two field rangers and two members attached to the Environmental Crimes Investigation unit of the KNP, to be credible, while the accused were considered to be unreliable witnesses who contradicted their own and each other’s versions of events.
Sentencing is expected to take place later today.
