Update: Rhino horn smuggling
Accused number thirteen in a rhino horn smuggling case currently circulating in the Middelburg Magistrates Court, made contact with the Middelburg Observer.
Elijah Ngubeni, who is suspected of being part of a smuggling syndicate, faces several criminal charges together with his co-accused which includes ex-policemen, Vietnamese and Mozambican nationals.
The alleged kingpin and ex Warrant Officer Joseph Nyalungu (Big Joe) has, since his arrest in 2011, had millions of Rand and some of his vehicles forfeited to the state.
Ngubeni phoned the Middelburg Observer claiming his innocence.
He said that he has been in custody since 2011 when he was arrested at the Kruger National Park where he worked.
He claimed to not understand why he has been kept in custody all these years without a trial.
He claims that he was set up by his superiors after he reported that one of his fellow co-workers was in possession of a gun used for rhino poaching.
Ngubeni explains a charge of trespassing by saying that he was on his way to obtain a certificate from an office within the park when he was picked up and charged.
A trusted source say that Ngubeni initially planned to enter into a plea agreement with the state.
He changed his mind on number 99 and was then added to the long list of accused already accompanying Big Joe.
The case was postponed until end July when the Mozambican nationals on the list of accused ended their mandate with their Legal Aid lawyer and appointed new legal representation.
