Rhino poaching case comes to a close after 14th suspect arrested

Posted by Jordyn Johnson on 7 February 2023

The fourteenth suspect in a rhino poaching case has been arrested in Mpumalanga.

rhino poaching

Picture: GettyImages

The Hawks division, ‘Major General Nico Gerber welcomed the arrest of the fourteenth accused, Nkateko Maluleke (24) on Thursday, 2 February 2023, charged for Money Laundering,’ reports SAPS.

Members of the Maluleke and Lekhuleni families were ‘arrested during a multi-disciplinary take-down operation’ on the morning of 2 December. A ‘financial investigation revealed illicit money flow in and out of the accounts of the suspects. It is alleged that Lekhuleni paid money into the accounts of the field ranger Maluleke and his family members as gratification for tactical information in Kruger National Park to assist (rhino) poaching syndicates.’

Nkateko Maluleke was not present during the take-down operation, and a warrant was issued against him.

He was eventually ‘arrested, charged, and appeared before the Bushbuckridge Magistrates Court same day of his arrest and was released on R5000 bail.’

He will appear in court with the other accused members on 15 February.

Provincial Head Major General Gerber applauds his team for successfully terminating Project ‘Blood Orange’ (the name of their investigation) so quickly and effectively.

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ALSO READ: Kruger National Park field rangers sentenced to 7 years in prison each






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