More legal woes for prominent wildlife hunter
Seven charges in the Dordabis district
Illegal leopard hunting is under scrutiny, with several hunters having already appeared in court this year.
With several wildlife crime cases against him, one of the cases against professional hunter Brian Roodt was adjourned until 29 October for plea and trial purposes.
Roodt, the owner of Quality Hunting Safaris, appeared in the special wildlife court in Katutura in Windhoek on Tuesday on charges of failing to comply with conservation regulations.
He allegedly failed to provide an annual hunting report on where, when and which game species he hunted, as well as the hunting trophy numbers, in addition to the names and nationalities of his clients.
In this regard, Roodt allegedly also provided false information about a hippo hunt with a Hungarian client that he did not report.
Legal
His legal representative, Gilroy Kasper, objected to the fact that additional charges appeared on the charge sheet shortly before his client's appearance on Tuesday afternoon.
'There is a personal vendetta against my client. The charge sheet was changed at the last minute, with an additional POCA charge added. We cannot plead to these charges,' Kasper complained to the acting regional magistrate, Immanuel Udjonbala.
State prosecutor Wai Murangi retorted that she had handed the amended charge sheet to Kasper an hour before Roodt's appearance.
'There is no personal vendetta against the client, and the State's intentions are not malicious,' she emphasised.
Kasper argued that he had to pick up his children from school during lunch hour.
Bail extended
Udjombala ordered that Roodt’s bail be extended and the case be transferred to the Windhoek Magistrate's Court. Kasper also tried to prevent a journalist from Network Media Hub (NMH) from taking photos of Roodt outside the courtroom and snatched the journalist’s cellphone from her hand.
Roodt also faces seven charges in the Dordabis district relating to the illegal hunting of protected game (a leopard), illegal hunting at night and with dogs, as well as the illegal possession of a leopard skin and money laundering.
He was arrested on 24 December last year and made his first appearance in the circuit court at Dordabis. He spent Christmas behind bars, and on 27 December, he appeared in court on additional charges. Roodt was released on bail of N$3 000 on 28 December.
Adhere to rules
The president of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (Napha), Axel Cramer, confirmed that Roodt is not a member of Napha.
Cramer encouraged their members to continue complying with the rules, regulations and laws set out by the members and Napha.
He said that through the collective adherence to these guidelines, Namibia can ensure the sustainability of wildlife populations and the long-term viability of hunting as a component of Namibia’s conservation strategy.
- [email protected]
Roodt, the owner of Quality Hunting Safaris, appeared in the special wildlife court in Katutura in Windhoek on Tuesday on charges of failing to comply with conservation regulations.
He allegedly failed to provide an annual hunting report on where, when and which game species he hunted, as well as the hunting trophy numbers, in addition to the names and nationalities of his clients.
In this regard, Roodt allegedly also provided false information about a hippo hunt with a Hungarian client that he did not report.
Legal
His legal representative, Gilroy Kasper, objected to the fact that additional charges appeared on the charge sheet shortly before his client's appearance on Tuesday afternoon.
'There is a personal vendetta against my client. The charge sheet was changed at the last minute, with an additional POCA charge added. We cannot plead to these charges,' Kasper complained to the acting regional magistrate, Immanuel Udjonbala.
State prosecutor Wai Murangi retorted that she had handed the amended charge sheet to Kasper an hour before Roodt's appearance.
'There is no personal vendetta against the client, and the State's intentions are not malicious,' she emphasised.
Kasper argued that he had to pick up his children from school during lunch hour.
Bail extended
Udjombala ordered that Roodt’s bail be extended and the case be transferred to the Windhoek Magistrate's Court. Kasper also tried to prevent a journalist from Network Media Hub (NMH) from taking photos of Roodt outside the courtroom and snatched the journalist’s cellphone from her hand.
Roodt also faces seven charges in the Dordabis district relating to the illegal hunting of protected game (a leopard), illegal hunting at night and with dogs, as well as the illegal possession of a leopard skin and money laundering.
He was arrested on 24 December last year and made his first appearance in the circuit court at Dordabis. He spent Christmas behind bars, and on 27 December, he appeared in court on additional charges. Roodt was released on bail of N$3 000 on 28 December.
Adhere to rules
The president of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (Napha), Axel Cramer, confirmed that Roodt is not a member of Napha.
Cramer encouraged their members to continue complying with the rules, regulations and laws set out by the members and Napha.
He said that through the collective adherence to these guidelines, Namibia can ensure the sustainability of wildlife populations and the long-term viability of hunting as a component of Namibia’s conservation strategy.
- [email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article