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Illegal cheetah hunting has come under scrutiny, with several hunters appearing in court this year.
As there are several wildlife crime cases against him, one of them against professional hunter Brian Root was adjourned to October 29 for a plea and trial.
Root, owner of Quality Hunting Safaris, appeared before the Special Wildlife Court in Wynterhekekatutulla on Tuesday charged with failing to comply with conservation regulations.
He allegedly failed to provide an annual hunting report showing what game he hunted, when and where, and the number of trophies hunted, as well as the names and nationalities of his clients.
In this regard, Rutte also allegedly provided a Hungarian client with false information about his unreported killing of hippos.
Legal
His legal representative, Gilroy Kasper, objected to the additional charges appearing on the charge sheet shortly before his client appeared in court Tuesday afternoon.
“I have a personal vendetta against my client. The indictment was changed at the last minute and a Proceeds of Crime Act charge was added. We cannot defend the charges,” Kasper complained to Acting Magistrate Immanuel Udjonbala.
State prosecutor Wai Murangi countered that she handed the amended charge sheet to Casper an hour before Root appeared in court.
She stressed: “There is no personal vendetta against the client and no ill will towards the government.”
Kasper argued that he had to pick up his children from school during lunch time.
Bail extended
Udejobara ordered that Root’s bail be extended and the case be transferred to the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court. Kasper also tried to stop a reporter from the Network Media Centre (NMH) from taking a photo of Root outside the court and snatched the reporter’s mobile phone from her.
Rutte also faces seven charges in the Doldabis district involving illegal hunting of protected wildlife (leopards), illegal night hunting and hunting with dogs, as well as illegal possession of leopard skins and money laundering.
He was arrested and first appeared in the Doldabise Circuit Court on December 24 last year. He spent Christmas in jail before appearing in court on other charges on December 27. On December 28, Roodt was released on bail of 3,000 Namibian dollars.
Follow the rules
Namibia Professional Hunting Association (Napha) president Axel Cramer confirmed that Root was not a member of Napha.
Kramer encouraged its members to continue to abide by the rules, regulations and laws set by members and Napha.
He said that by collectively adhering to these guidelines, Namibia can ensure the sustainability of wildlife populations and the long-term viability of hunting as part of Namibia’s conservation strategy.
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