Alleged rhino poachers’ appeal denied in the High Court
Acting Judge Francois Botes entrenched the refusal of accused police officers' bail application.
TSHWANE – Three men suspected of poaching rhino in the Kruger National Park (KNP) earlier this year, appeared in the North Gauteng High Court on Monday to appeal their unsuccessful bail applications.
Three police officers, Constables Arnold Mashele, Morris Sehlabela and Dennis Mkhonto approached the North Gauteng High Court to appeal their respective bail applications that were unsuccessful before Magistrates Baloyi and Ntombeni on separate occasions in the White River Magistrate’s Court.
Messrs Mashele, Sehlabele and Mr Phineas Dinda, who was previously employed as a game ranger in the Kruger National Park, were arrested on May 27. They face charges of corruption, trespassing, conspiracy to commit a crime and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. After their first bail application was denied by Magistrate Winnie Baloyi on July 15, Mashele brought a new bail application on a fresh set of facts, which was also denied.
Magistrate Heki Ntombeni denied the bail application of Mkhonto on July 22.
Sehlabela, Dinda and Mkhonto’s appeal was denied by Acting Judge Francois Botes on Monday and they will remain in custody until the completion of the trial. No trial date has been determined in this matter yet and will be announced in the Skukuza Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
Read previous article here: Suspected poachers denied bail
