He was ordered to pay a fine of R100,000 into the account of ’Stop Rhino Poaching NPC’.
A 55-YEAR-old man who was found in possession of two rhino horns and five other smaller pieces valued at R1, 9 million has been ordered to pay a fine of R100,000.
Hawks provincial spokesperson Captain Tebogo Moses Thebe said the accused Tewie, Viljoen, 55, was sentenced in the Kimberley Magistrate’s court to 60 months imprisonment, suspended for five years on condition that he was not convicted for the same offence during this period.
He was further ordered to pay a fine of R100,000 into the account of ’Stop Rhino Poaching NPC’.
“Sentencing took place on March 1.”
He added that Viljoen was arrested at a Kimberley casino on October 11 2019 by the Hawk’s Serious Organised Crime Investigating team together with the Stock Theft Unit and SANParks.
“He was charged for being in contravention of Section 57 (1) of the National Environmental Management-Biodiversity (Nemba) Act 50 of 2004.
“The accused had been out on R50,000 bail before he was convicted.”
