WINDHOEK – The three Chinese nationals arrested for attempting to smuggle 14 rhino horns valued at N$2.3 million out of the country were denied bail yesterday in the Katutura Magistrate’s Court.
Li Xiaoliang, Li Zhibing and Pu Xuexin were caught with the rhino horns, as well as a leopard skin valued at N$50 000, in their luggage on March 23 at Hosea Kutako International Airport on their way to Hong Kong via Johannesburg.
The court heard that they travelled the same day and their visa numbers followed each other. The court further found that they did not pay for their own accommodation while in Namibia.
Prosecutor Anthony Wilson Wilson argued that Xiaoliang was aware of the contents of the suitcase, because when the police asked him for a key to open it he refused to give it to them and tried to hide it.
Xiaoliang was the first to testify during the bail hearing last week and maintained that he was not aware of the contents of the suitcase found in his possession.
The three Chinese men, who are charged with possession of specially protected resources, allegedly wrapped the rhino horns in plastic and foil and loosely tucked them between clothes in their suitcases.
The three left China on March 9 and arrived in Zambia the following day. They then entered Namibia on March 12 through the Wenela border post between Namibia and Zambia on tourist visas, police said. Magistrate George Mbundu postponed the matter to August 6, and the case will be heard at Hosea Kutako court.
By Tunomukwathi Asino