State seizes ex-attorney’s rhino horn ‘proceeds’

A disbarred attorney who allegedly conspired with a local broker and the Chinese mafia to secure horns from rhinos, which are protected by legislation in South Africa, is facing a criminal charge.

That is according to papers filed in the Pietermaritzburg High Court by the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit.

The unit has obtained an order preserving the R68 000 which was allegedly found when ex- attorney Suraj Rampersad and Carel Nel, a broker, were nabbed in a sting operation dubbed Project Wizard in 2010.

Rampersad, of Verulam, who was struck off the roll of attorneys in 2008, appeared with Nel recently in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court.

They have been charged for contravening the Environmental Biodiversity Act of 2004 and for allegedly buying the horns during the sting operation.

The criminal case against them is pending.

Last week the Pietermaritzburg High Court also appointed attorney Rovanya Pillay to take charge of the R68 000 as the curator.

Kenneth Samuel, the deputy director of public prosecutions, claimed the money was proceeds of illegal activities.

According to court papers, an unidentified professional hunter who will testify at the trial of the accused had tipped off Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife regarding Rampersad and Nel’s alleged dealings with the Chinese mafia in Johannesburg, who wanted the rhino horns.

According to the affidavit of Warrant Officer Riaan van Rooyen of the rhino task team, the professional hunter had acted as a middleman during the operation.

The hunter apparently received R48 000 as a reward from the accused.

This amount, and another R20 000 which was allegedly found on the accused, has been seized by the State.