Game-farm owner Marnus Steyl, accused of working with a Thai syndicate that allegedly exported rhino horns from South Africa, has appeared in court after handing himself over to the police.
Steyl appeared in the dock in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday alongside Thai nationals Punpitak Chunchom and Chumlong Lemtongthai.
The three appeared in a packed courtroom, filled with foreign and local journalists and animal rights activists. Steyl was granted R100 000 bail, and the case has been set down for June.
The Thais were less fortunate – the instruction from the court was to keep them in custody in two separate prisons.
Chunchom was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday while apparently trying to sneak back into the country. He was accompanied by a second Thai national, Suphachat Ramangkoon, who was also arrested.
In June last year, Chunchom was arrested in Edenvale for being in possession of lion bones without a permit. He was forced to pay a R10 000 fine.
His fellow accomplice in the dock and the apparent kingpin, Lemtongthai, has been attempting to procure bail over the past few months. His requests have been turned down as he is considered a flight risk.
He is charged with contravening the Customs and Excise Act, and fraud. Chunchom faces similar charges.
Lemtongthai is accused of running a syndicate that used Thai prostitutes and strippers as bogus rhino hunters. Lemtongthai would allegedly obtain legal trophy permits to shoot the rhinos. The permits would be in the names of the Thai woman. The State has said these woman would then pose alongside the carcasses for photographs. It is believed 26 rhinos were shot this way.
In a separate courtroom, Ramangkoon appeared and was given a R10 000 fine for not declaring R30 000 while entering the country.
Steyl’s alleged involvement is that he owned the farm on which the rhinos were hunted. He allegedly made millions through his dealings with Lemtongthai’s company.
Speaking to journalists after his client’s appearance, attorney Alwyn Griebenow said the State had clearly indicated Steyl was a suspect. Last week, Griebenow said, a warrant was issued for Steyl’s arrest and he had handed himself in to the police. Griebenow said the next step was to get a copy of the police docket, and fill in an application to ascertain what the charges are against his client. - The Star