Rhino smuggler, Chumlong Lemtongthai, sentenced to 40 years in S. Africa
A Thailand national and self-confessed rhino trader and smuggler, Chumlong Lemtongthai, was sentenced to 40 years in prison by a Kempton Park Magistrate Court Friday, according to a South African National Parks (SANParks) news release Friday.
“We applaud the sentencing by Magistrate Prince Manyathi. The Court has handed out justice on behalf of the South African people, said SANParks Chief Executive Officer, Dr David Mabunda.
“This strong message from our courts does not leave one in doubt that our country’s courts are meting out tough justice to those who plunder our heritage ,the message is clear, they will be removed from society for a very long time.”
According to Dr Mabunda the country had lost 528 rhinos this year with 320 killed in the Kruger National Park (KNP). The number of arrests made so far stand at 222 for the country with 55 in the KNP.
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Public domain image/Trisha M Shears
