One of the rhino poachers arrested over the weekend by Badplaas police already has a serious rap sheet.

The latest twist to the recent arrest of three rhino poachers near Mpumalanga is that one of them happened to be out on bail, with the charge of attempted murder already against him.

Not only that – he was reportedly arrested earlier this year for rhino poaching in the Songimvelo Game Reserve.

Suspected rhino poachers from Mbejeka village in Elukwatini

The trio of suspected rhino poachers has been identified as Fannie Maseko, 19, Mduduzi Mathebula, 20, and Lucky Maseko, 20, from Mbejeka village in Elukwatini.

Elukwatini cluster police spokesperson JC Potgieter said via News24.com that Lucky Maseko is also an attempted murder suspect out on bail, who was previously arrested after three rhinos were killed in the Songimvelo Game Reserve.

Lucky was caught earlier this year after three rhinos were shot in the reserve and their horns removed. He was out on bail and there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court.

He also has another case of abduction and attempted murder against him.

The three suspects have been remanded in custody until their next court appearance on September 20th.

Read about the arrest here.

‘Insatiable’ demand for rhino horn

The insatiable market for rhino horn has claimed the lives of over 600 rhinos in the last five years, and is responsible for driving rhino poaching to its highest level in 16 years.

Although scientific testing has confirmed that rhino horn is of no medicinal value, illegal rhino horn is still in high demand for use in traditional medicines in China and Vietnam.

Source: News24.com

Image: Saving Rhinos LLC

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Rhishja Cota-Larson

I am the founder of Saving Rhinos LLC, which publishes news and information about the global rhino crisis. Besides writing Rhino Horn is Not Medicine, I am the author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine, the Editor of Project Pangolin, and a writer for the environmental news blog Planetsave. When I'm not blogging about the illegal wildlife trade, I like to rock out to live music.

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