POLICE in Botswana have appealed for information that could leading to the arrest of Zimbabwean poacher, Partson Tapera Gotora, who is wanted on allegations of rhino horn trafficking.
Botswana Police Service (BPS) Maun Station commander, Assistant Superintendent Moathodi Ntuane, says the charges stem from allegations that Gotora bought the two horns of a rhino that was killed by poachers near the northern city of Maun in May 2013.
Gotora allegedly bought the horns from a poaching syndicate of Botswana nationals, Jacob Thabare, Koeparetse Itheetseng, Morafe Disalahoo and George Thimbumburu. In their testimonies, the four told police that Gotora had bought the horns and successfully smuggled them out of Botswana to an unknown destination.
Ntuane said Gotora was charged with contravening Section 67 of the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act, which outlaws the killing of threatened wildlife species.
At the time of the alleged offence, Gotora was living and working in Francistown in Botswana.
However, he escaped a police raid and returned to his native Zimbabwe, where he remains on the run. Early in 2014, he was placed on the Interpol “Red Alert” list of top ivory poachers and traffickers. – ANA
29/11/2016
