Groenewald brothers rearrested, granted bail
In 2014 Review reported that local game farmer, Dawie Groenewald, and his younger brother, Janneman, have been indicted in the United States on 18 charges relating to illegal rhino hunting.
POLOKWANE – On Thursday morning both brothers were arrested by Interpol, a week after the state’s case against Dawie, his ex-wife, Sariette and nine others was postponed to January 2018.
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Hawks Spokesperson, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said that Interpol executed an international warrant of arrest from the United States of America. “The brothers are wanted for various charges by the American department of Justice. They were assisted by the Limpopo Endangered Species Unit and the tactical Response Unit.”
Review spoke to the Groenewald’s lawyers, Thomas Grobler and Hennie Erwee, who both confirmed that a warrant of arrest was issued.
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“The Interpol arrest warrants relate to charges against the Groenewald brothers by American hunters. We spoke to the relevant parties involved in 2014, and agreed that our clients will not be extradited to the US until their local court cases were finalised, ” said Erwee. Grobler confirmed that bail was granted at R50 000 for Dawie and R10 000 for Janneman. “The case has been postponed to 14 August for the charges to be investigated.” In 2014 the Groenewalds faced charges under several US laws, including the Lacey Act that makes it a criminal act to knowingly sell wildlife that was taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of US and foreign laws. The act addresses poaching and illegal trafficking, making it a crime to sell animal hunts conducted in violation of state, federal, tribal and foreign law.
Groenewald and his brother were charged with conspiracy to sell illegal rhino hunts in South Africa in order to defraud American hunters, money-laundering, contravening the Lacey Act, aiding and abetting, mail fraud and structuring bank deposits to avoid reporting requirements.
