Rhino poaching case drags on

The poaching case of former Brave Warriors team medic Gerson Kandjii and five other accused on Friday was postponed to 27 February 2017 for plea and trial in the Okahao Magistrate’s Court.

The six are charged with illegal hunting of specially protected game, possession of a firearm without a licence and unlawful possession of ammunition.

The accused - Kandji, Stephanus David, Karunga Martin, Hinu Lucky, Daniel Nghidinwa and Kakuva Tjeparu - appeared before Magistrate Shipo Peingondjambi and were ordered to return on the new date.

Tjeparu was recently arrested in Windhoek and added to the case.

The other five were arrested in November 2014 and were charged with the killing of critically endangered black rhinos in Etosha National Park.

Kandjii was granted bail of N$20 000 in early January 2015, before a ballistics test linked his hunting rifle to the Etosha poaching.

All six accused were granted bail, but David is behind bars at the Okahao police station for another criminal offence he committed while on bail in the poaching case.