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Kruger National Park poacher sentenced to 20 years; accomplice escapes to Mozambique-written by Ronelle Snyders
The Skukuza Regional Court in Mpumalanga sentenced 41-year-old rhino poacher, Nelson Sambo, to 20 years in prison.
Sambo was convicted and sentenced for poaching activities in the popular Kruger National Park.
The court heard that Sambo and another suspect, identified only as Gabriel on 2 December 2020, somehow entered the Kruger National Park through the Stolznek ranger detachment, approximately 31.9km from Skukuza.
“The rangers deployed in the field on that day heard two gunshots in the vicinity of Stolznek. The incident was then immediately reported, and the assistance of the Skukuza airport was requested,” provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhl said.
A helicopter was immediately dispatched, as well as dog handlers.
“The team located two men and found them in possession of two sets of rhino horns, a hunting rifle, twenty rounds of ammunition and three knives,” Mdhluli said.
The arrested suspects initially appeared before the Bushbuck District Court, where they were both granted bail.
After a few court appearances, police said the two defendants had disappeared. Arrest warrants were issued for both suspects, and Sambo was later relocated to the scene.
Mdhluli said that Gabriel has since disappeared and that he has fled back to Mozambique.
Sambo was tried and convicted on seven counts. For violating the National Park, he was sentenced to three years in prison, and for violating the Immigration Act, he was sentenced to ten years in prison.
On the grounds of illegal hunting of rhinos, Sambo was sentenced to ten years in prison. He was also sentenced to four years in prison for possession of an illegal firearm, and five years in prison for conspiracy to commit a crime.
The court also sentenced Sambo to two years in prison for possession of illegal ammunition, and an additional one year in prison for possession of a dangerous weapon.
Some of the sentences will be served simultaneously, and Sambo will spend 20 years behind bars.
Meanwhile, the acting provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomed Sambo’s sentencing.
He also praised the teamwork shown by the investigation team, Field Rangers of Sanparks, the prosecution team and the judiciary.
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