In a statement released on Monday, South African National Parks (SANParks) welcomed the 33-year sentencing of a rhino poacher by Pretoria’s Skukuza Regional Court.
The accused, Patrick Nkuna, was arrested along with other poachers after shooting at a SANParks helicopter in Kruger National Park back in 2015. He was sentenced last Friday 9 November in the Skukuza Regional Court on 12 charges of, among others, possession of an illegal firearm, trespassing in Kruger’s Pretoriuskop rest camp region, and four attempted murder charges.
According to the SANParks press release, Kruger National Park’s Managing Executive, Glenn Phillips, is pleased with the sentence and the stern example it sets for prospective poachers: ‘This is a huge victory and deterrence factor in the ongoing anti-poaching campaign. We warmly welcome this ruling as it will provide the much-needed boost to the anti-poaching teams who endure harsh conditions for the protection of our parks.’
‘Our wish is to see a significant increase in such convictions and for the law enforcement authorities in affected countries to cooperate and work with us to end this scourge,’ Phillips added.
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