Wildlife sanctuary owner sentenced for illegal trade in rhino horn

Mr Cornelius (48) was found guilty and sentenced to pay R10 000, or three years imprisonment, as well as a fine of R50 000 to be paid to Mpumalanga Parks Board.

On January 4, 2018, information was followed up by members of the Hawks about a suspect from Gauteng who was negotiating the sale of rhino horn with Mr Cornelius, without the necessary permits.

The intelligence-driven operation was conducted by members of the Hawks and the SAPS K9 unit.

In the early hours of January 5, 2018, the Gauteng suspect arrived at Ubhetyan-o-Africa with a white Lexus, which was stopped and searched.
During the search, a white rhino horn was found attached to the chassis of the vehicle with cable ties.

The horn, valued at R175 000, was found with R699 129 in cash.

Chinese nationals Yansen Feng and Lui Li Hong were arrested on the spot.

On January 12, 2018, continued investigations led to the arrest of co-accused Joseph Albertus du Plessis and Susanna Johanna du Plessis in Bloemfontein.
They were charged for contravention of Section 23 Act 10 of 1998 and Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act Dealing in rhino horns without a permit.

The cases against Cornelius’s four co-accused was finalized in 2018.

Yansen Feng was sentenced to a fine of R60 000 or six months imprisonment, with a further eighteen months imprisonment wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted again. He was also ordered to pay R1 million to Stop Rhino Poaching in victim compensation.

Liu Li Hong was sentenced to pay R60 000, or two years imprisonment.

Joseph Albertus du Plessis and Susanna du Plessis were sentenced to pay R20 000, or two years imprisonment.

The trials were separated on the request of Mr Cornelius’s defense.

• Mr Cornelius also lost a multi-million rand civil suit against the sanctuary following an accident on the farm’s popular obstacle course.