A 23-year-old man, Rich Ricardo Chauke, was sentenced to nine years imprisonment after rangers apprehended him with a rifle and an axe in Kruger National Park.
According to police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, field rangers on duty noticed footprints on the road at Houtboschrand action of the park in April 2021. ‘With the assistance of a tracking dog, the rangers began looking for their targets whereby the three were hiding in a thick bush,’ Hohlala said.
‘Two of the intruders, unfortunately, fled however Chauke was caught by the rangers and he was found in possession of a 458 Win Mag bolt action rifle with no serial numbers, two cartridges of the said rifle, as well as three backpacks and an axe.’
Rangers took the suspect to the Skukuza Police Station, and the suspect was charged with trespassing, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and in contravention of the Immigration Act for illegally crossing the border from Mozambique.
Chauke pleaded guilty at the Skukuza Regional Court on 1 April 2022.
Picture: Getaway Gallery
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