News / National
Cop arrested for cyanide poisoning of jumbos and $1million ivory
15 Nov 2013 at 14:35hrs | Views
A former police officer from Jotsholo in Lupane District has been arrested for allegedly poisoning and killing 23 elephants with cyanide and being found in possession of jumbo tusks.
The former officer William Ncube (53) was arrested with four other people and the tusks and the elephants they allegedly killed were valued at $1 150 000. The poisoning allegedly took place between August last year and last month at Ngamo Forest.
A statement by an official from the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority which is included in the record showed that a total of 149 jumbos were allegedly poisoned and killed by poachers from February this year to date.
Ncube was implicated by his alleged accomplices as the supplier of the cyanide. On the other hand, Ncube told police investigators that he was introduced into the act by some people some of them in Government departments.
Ncube, is facing two charges-one of possessing ivory and the other of discharging hazardous substances.
On the charge of discharging hazardous substances, Ncube is jointly charged with Sikhumbuzo Sibindi, of Fatima Village and Elvis Nkomo of Bhangale Village.
The other two are Mkhululi Ncube(36) and Johannes Munkombwe (29) both from Bhanda Village all under chief Mabhikwa. Mkhululi Ncube and Munkombwe face two charges each.
The five pleaded guilty to the offences when they appeared before Hwange magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa yesterday. They were remanded in custody to Monday for sentencing.
Ncube is being represented by Mr Elvis Mashindi of Mashindi and Company Legal Practitioners.
Allegations are that the five mixed cyanide with water and put it in buckets which they deposited in the bush where elephants drank.
In August last year Ncube took out two tusks of elephants and in September this year he allegedly killed three jumbos using water laced with cyanide.
He went on to kill two more elephants last month in connivance with Sibindi and Nkomo.
Mkhululi Ncube and Munkombwa allegedly received an undisclosed quantity of cyanide from Ncube and using the same modus operandi, killed 20 elephants and took away 34 tusks.
About 5.67 kg of cyanide was recovered at Munkombwa's homestead while 4kg was recovered at Ncube's homestead buried in a kraal.
Sibindi, Nkomo, Mkhululi Ncube and Munkombwa said they were introduced into the act of killing elephants by Ncube who promised them money.
In aggravation, Mr Tawanda Sigauke for the State said cyanide is a lethal chemical whose effects are far reaching hence the need to nip the practice.
"When consumed it causes clotting of blood and loss of oxygen and as a result the animal suffocates to death. Other animals are also in danger and there is a possibility that the chemical will dissolve into water bodies during the rainy season which will cause a health hazard for humans and the environment," said Mr Sigauke.
The former officer William Ncube (53) was arrested with four other people and the tusks and the elephants they allegedly killed were valued at $1 150 000. The poisoning allegedly took place between August last year and last month at Ngamo Forest.
A statement by an official from the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority which is included in the record showed that a total of 149 jumbos were allegedly poisoned and killed by poachers from February this year to date.
Ncube was implicated by his alleged accomplices as the supplier of the cyanide. On the other hand, Ncube told police investigators that he was introduced into the act by some people some of them in Government departments.
Ncube, is facing two charges-one of possessing ivory and the other of discharging hazardous substances.
On the charge of discharging hazardous substances, Ncube is jointly charged with Sikhumbuzo Sibindi, of Fatima Village and Elvis Nkomo of Bhangale Village.
The other two are Mkhululi Ncube(36) and Johannes Munkombwe (29) both from Bhanda Village all under chief Mabhikwa. Mkhululi Ncube and Munkombwe face two charges each.
The five pleaded guilty to the offences when they appeared before Hwange magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa yesterday. They were remanded in custody to Monday for sentencing.
Allegations are that the five mixed cyanide with water and put it in buckets which they deposited in the bush where elephants drank.
In August last year Ncube took out two tusks of elephants and in September this year he allegedly killed three jumbos using water laced with cyanide.
He went on to kill two more elephants last month in connivance with Sibindi and Nkomo.
Mkhululi Ncube and Munkombwa allegedly received an undisclosed quantity of cyanide from Ncube and using the same modus operandi, killed 20 elephants and took away 34 tusks.
About 5.67 kg of cyanide was recovered at Munkombwa's homestead while 4kg was recovered at Ncube's homestead buried in a kraal.
Sibindi, Nkomo, Mkhululi Ncube and Munkombwa said they were introduced into the act of killing elephants by Ncube who promised them money.
In aggravation, Mr Tawanda Sigauke for the State said cyanide is a lethal chemical whose effects are far reaching hence the need to nip the practice.
"When consumed it causes clotting of blood and loss of oxygen and as a result the animal suffocates to death. Other animals are also in danger and there is a possibility that the chemical will dissolve into water bodies during the rainy season which will cause a health hazard for humans and the environment," said Mr Sigauke.
Source - Byo24News
