Windhoek
The State yesterday rejected the guilty plea of one of four Chinese nationals who were arrested for attempting to smuggle 14 rhino horns valued at N$2.3 million out of the country last year.
The accused are Li Xiaoliang, 30, Li Zhibing, 53, Pu Xuexin, 49 and Wang Hui, 40. They appeared in the Katutura Regional Court.
The four are charged with unlawful exportation or attempting to export controlled wildlife products, i.e. 14 rhino horns; alternatively dealing in controlled wildlife products. The second alternative charge is unlawful possession of wildlife products.
The second main count the four are charged with is unlawful exportation or attempting to export a controlled wildlife product, i.e. one leopard skin. The leopard skin is valued at N$50 000. The alternative charge is unlawfully possession of a wildlife product.
The third main count is money laundering. Here the first alternative charge is possession of proceeds of unlawful activities. The second alternative charge is bringing into or taking out of Namibia proceeds of unlawful activities.
Zhibing pleaded guilty to the first and second main counts, but not guilty to the alternatives. Nor did he plead guilty to the third main charge or its alternative.
State prosecutor Simba Nduna rejected the guilty plea of Zhibing.
The goods were found in the luggage of the accused on March 23 at Hosea Kutako International Airport, while they were on their way to Hong Kong via Johannesburg.
Zhibing, in his guilty plea read in court by his counsel Orben Sibeya, said that Xiaoliang, Xuexin and Hui did not know about the contents of the luggage.
“I have never seen a live rhino except on television,” the statement added.
The four were remanded in custody. They were denied bail and have been in custody since their arrest.
The court heard during the bail hearings last year that they travelled the same day and their visa numbers followed each other. The court also heard that they did not pay for their own accommodation while in Namibia.
Prosecutor Anthony Wilson argued last year 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 and maintained that he was not aware of the contents of the suitcase found in his possession.
Hui, who is believed to be the poaching kingpin, was denied bail in June this year. He was arrested in May at the Windhoek Country Club Resort and Casino.
He allegedly travels between China and Namibia regularly, and when investigating officers learnt he was back in the country in May this year they tracked him down to the Windhoek Country Club Resort and Casino, where he was gambling.