Picture: Elephant ivories/ Illustration
By STAFF REPORTER
Itsoseng Regional Court sentenced a man found to be in possession of pieces of elephant ivory worth R1million to eight years imprisonment on Thursday. Moabi Victor Moribe was found guilty of contravening Section 57(1) of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004).
However, the North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said the sentence was wholly suspended for five years after Moribe pleaded guilty to the charge.
“The sentence was wholly suspended for five years on condition that the accused is not convicted for the same offence during the period of suspension. Moribe’s apprehension and subsequent sentencing emanate from an incident in which six suspects were arrested in Zone 1, Itsoseng on 11 June 2018 by members of the Provincial Stock Theft Task Team.
“The police acted on a tip-off after being informed that the elephant ivories were kept in a house in Zone 1, Itsoseng. During the search, six pieces of elephant ivory worth over R1 million were found and confiscated,” Mokgwabone said.
He further said Moribe who is the owner of the house, managed to evade arrest. Mokgwabone added that as a result, the case against six accused was not enrolled, but a warrant was issued for the arrest of Moribe.
Moribe was arrested on 3 June 2021 during a crime intelligence-driven operation by the Sannieshof Stock theft and Endangered Species (STES) Unit.
Acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Dintletse Molefe welcomed the sentencing of Moribe. Molefe said this should serve as a lesson that the long arm of the law will always catch up with those who think that they can commit crime and get away with it.
The Guardian 