Rhino-horn smuggler on the run

Chinese rhino-horn smuggler Wang Hui (48) escaped from custody at around 11:00 yesterday and was still on the run at time of going to press last night.Wang escaped when he went to Brakwater with a warden from the Windhoek Central Prison to pick up material from a supplier.This was confirmed yesterday afternoon by correctional services spokesperson, commissioner Michael Mulisa."They went to the supplier to get material for a workshop at the prison, for a ministry of health and social services project the prisoners are working on," he said.Once they arrived, Wang said he needed the toilet, and used the opportunity to escape.The mastermind behind a Chinese smuggling syndicate, which he ran with Li Xiaoling, Li Zhibing and Pu Xuexin, Wang is serving a 14-year prison sentence, of which five years have been suspended.The four were caught at the Hosea Kutako International Airport in 2014 with 14 rhino horns and one leopard skin in their luggage.They were found guilty in 2016 of the illegal possession and illegal export of game products, but were acquitted on the main charge of money laundering.Late yesterday afternoon, information circulated on emergency service groups that Wang was presumably on his way to Swakopmund in a Mercedes Benz SLK without number plates.Later, information was received that he was on his way to the coast in a bakkie.This could, however, not be confirmed by Mulisa.

Rhino-horn smuggler on the run

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Rhino-horn smuggler on the run

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