Court appearance expected for suspect accused in rhino horn theft case.

A 44-year-old foreign national is expected to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrate’s
Court today, facing charges related to violating the National Environmental Management and
Biodiversity Act.
The suspect is accused of being involved in the alleged staged theft of rhino horns at
Haartebeesfontein.
The suspect was apprehended yesterday in Heidelberg during the execution of authorised search-
and-seizure and arrest warrants.
The warrants were carried out in Centurion and Heidelberg as part of an intelligence-led
operation conducted by members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Wildlife
Trafficking Section. They were supported by the Tactical Operations Management Section
(TOMS), the Pretoria K9 Unit, SAPS Head Office’s Modus Operandi Centre, and the
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
“During the search in Centurion, suspected illegal processed elephant ivory valued at about R200
000 was discovered and confiscated.
“On the same day as the suspect’s court appearance, his co-accused, 52-year-old Bao Trung, a
Vietnamese national, is also expected to appear in the same court for a formal bail application
following his appearance last week,” police said.
The Acting National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant
General Patrick Mbotho, reaffirmed that the DPCI remains committed to tackling wildlife
trafficking and other forms of serious organised crime.