Four in court over rhino horns

Paidamoyo Bore

THREE Zimbabweans and a foreigner appeared in court yesterday facing unlawful possession of rhino horns worth US$600 000.

Wang Yang, 59, Jabulani Muthimukulu, 44, Weston Useya, 39, and Cleopas Kacheya, 30, were denied bail when they appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi.

The quartet was advised to approach the High Court for bail application. They are expected back in court on February 6.

All the four vehemently denied the charges.

Allegations are that sometime in October last year, Useya and Kacheya went to Chipinge and acquired a rhino horn from Vosta Masasa, who had got it from Johane Guzha, who allegedly hunts rhinos illegally.

On January 16, CID detectives received a tip-off that Useya and Kacheya were illegally dealing in rhino horns.

After their arrest, they implicated Yang and Muthimukulu.

According to the State’s case, detectives recovered a pangolin scale when they pounced on Muthimukulu at his residence.

Yang was lured by detectives to Muthimukulu’s Borrowdale home.

On arrival, he was searched and two pieces of rhino horns were recovered from his vehicle.

It is alleged that when Yang was interviewed, he revealed that he had bought them from Muthimukulu and Useya.

Yang further told the detectives that he had other pieces at his place in Hillside and they were recovered by the cops.

Recovered rhino horns and pieces weighed about 12.4kgs.

In a different matter Muthimukulu is also being accused of possessing a pangolin scale without a permit.