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Victory
Hooray - Magistrate listens to "public outcry" !

Hooray - Magistrate listens to "public outcry" !

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This petition has been created by Brian S. and may not represent the views of the Avaaz community.
Brian S.
started this petition to
Mr. T.C. Mabaso - Chief Magistrate, Durban. (KZN - South Africa)
On Thursday, 26 April, the presiding Magistrate in this case, Ms. Anita Govender, remanded the 3 accused in custody until 22 May 2012, pending further information from the Prosecutor, specifically as a result of the "public outcry".

This is the FIRST time in SA courts that a judicial officer has publicly taken civic voices into serious account when considering a bail application.

THANK YOU - one and all. Let's keep the momentum building !

Your Honour, Sir – I'm deeply concerned about the brutal slaughter of iconic rhinos in South Africa.I urgently plead with you to set a formal policy in your Durban courts that anyone arrested and charged with any serious wildlife crime related to rhino poaching and/or including the illegal possession of rhino be unconditionally denied bail. DURBAN RHINO-CRIME TRIO: My specific concern is the imminent bail hearing in Case No. Durban Central (CAS 1012/03/2012) in Court 10 on Thursday, 26 April 2012, in the matter State vs. Moodley R, Luthuli S and Sibaya S. DENIAL OF BAIL: The Investigating Officer was the first person to successfully secure a “no bail” judgement in Heidelberg when KZN rhinos were poached (Heidelberg CAS 101/11/2010). Another "no bail" judgement (Vryheid CAS 374/11/2010) followed, as well as in Magudu recently (Magudu CAS 10/03/2012), where covert operations saved 13 rhino lives.All 3 cases prove that continued detention during investigations greatly assists in case-building. State Advocate Yuri Gangai and the Investigating Officer, W/O J.P. Roux, will oppose bail on 26 April to ensure the accused are unable to frustrate evidence gathering. Rhino poaching and the illicit horn trade with Far East markets involves a complex web of transactions and supply-chain role-players.  The world is watching this 26 April case. Your Honour, I accept that the accused have a right to bail.However, poaching is out of control and a species that has existed for millions of years is now highly threatened, as is South Africa’s eco-tourism image worldwide and related jobs and investments. A recent Avaaz petition to the EU to fight for stronger international action attracted over 500,000 signatories in under 5 days, with substantive media coverage worldwide. We must stand united - courts and citizenry - to do much more, or we fail not only the rhinos’ future, but also this rich and precious heritage of our children. Your Honour, I appeal to your national and international civic responsibility - please listen to all the concerned voices - such as mine - and establish a formal court policy in Durban Magistrates Court, urgently, so that serious rhino crime perpetrators are denied bail. I thank you sincerely.
Posted (Updated )