DPRK diplomat expelled from SA for rhino horn trafficking
Updated: 2015-12-24 08:56
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||||
CAPE TOWN - A high ranking diplomat working for the embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been expelled from South Africa for alleged rhino horn trafficking, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
The alleged crime "was committed in Mozambique by the diplomat who was driving a vehicle that had South African diplomatic registration", Nelson Kgwete, spokesperson for the SA Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) told Xinhua.
Nelson did not name the diplomat, but local press reports identified him as Park Chol-jun, a political councillor at the embassy.
Park had quietly left South Africa on December 11, and the DIRCO was informed by the DPRK embassy that the diplomat has returned to North Korea, according to Nelson.
A call to the DPRK Embassy went unanswered.
Park was arrested on May 3 in the Mozambican capital of Maputo for allegedly trafficking 4.5 kilograms of rhino horn.
Law enforcement agents also found 99,300 U.S. dollars in cash in a vehicle in which he was travelling. The car had diplomatic licence plates and was registered to the DPRK embassy in Pretoria.
The South African government last month gave Park a 30-day ultimatum to leave the country, the local news outlet News24 said.
Another North Korean man, Kim Jong Su, was also arrested along with Park.
Mozambican police said the two men were subsequently released on 30 ,000 U.S. dollars bail. According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, Park and Kim returned to South Africa by land shortly afterwards.
South Africa bears the brunt of rhino poaching. The country has lost a total of 749 rhinos between January and August this year.
In 2014, a record 1,215 rhinos were illegally killed in the country. That's one rhino poached every eight hours.
Observers expect the number of rhinos poached this year in South Africa to overtake the 1, 215 of last year despite intensified anti-poaching efforts.
Related Stories
Head of Venezuela's National Guard faces drug trafficking charges 2015-12-17 07:53
149 children rescued in sex trafficking raid 2015-10-16 07:54
5 jailed for poaching, trafficking endangered monkeys 2015-09-07 15:18
Today's Top News
Germany is AIIB's largest non-regional shareholder
Spanish PM to form new govt after elections
Two-child policy expected to be approved
IMF head ordered to face trial over Tapie affair
China, Russia sign over 30 deals on Medvedev visit
Xi calls for shared future in cyberspace
China successfully launches its first dark matter satellite
China becomes shareholder in European bank
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Xi just needs to turn up for a grand welcome |
Stepping up |
Rural families still hope for male heirs |
Blue skies over Beijing ... for now |
V-Day parade for 70th WWII anniversary |
Tianjin blasts: Death, damage and bravery |