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| South Africa gives rhino poacher 40-year jail term | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Thai man has been jailed for 40 years by a court in South Africa for organising illegal rhino poaching expeditions. | |
| Chumlong Lemtongthai had been described by officials as a "leading figure" in international rhino poaching. | Chumlong Lemtongthai had been described by officials as a "leading figure" in international rhino poaching. |
| South African officials told local media that they hoped the harsh sentence would deter other poachers. | |
| Wildlife protection campaigners say the demand for rhino horn is driven by its use in traditional medicine in Asia. | Wildlife protection campaigners say the demand for rhino horn is driven by its use in traditional medicine in Asia. |
| In Vietnam many believe that ground rhino horn can be used to cure cancer - although there is no scientific evidence for this - and horns taken to the the Middle East are used to make handles for ornamental daggers. | In Vietnam many believe that ground rhino horn can be used to cure cancer - although there is no scientific evidence for this - and horns taken to the the Middle East are used to make handles for ornamental daggers. |
| Magistrate Prince Manyathi ruled that Chumlong Lemtongthai had shown no remorse for his crimes. | |
| Mr Manyathi was also quoted as saying he did not want his children to live in a world where they could only see rhinos in photographs. | |
| Minister of Justice Jeff Radebe said the court's decision was "an appropriate sentence". It is is the longest ever handed down for poaching in South Africa. | |
| Smuggling 'kingpin' | |
| A total of 222 people have been arrested for rhino poaching and related activities since the beginning of 2012 in South Africa, with many of their cases currently before the courts. | |
| Chumlong Lemtongthai is believed to be the kingpin of an international rhino horn smuggling ring and is the most prominent smuggler to be convicted since South Africa intensified anti-poaching measures in recent years. | |
| He pleaded guilty to paying prostitutes to pose as big game hunters with permits. They were given about $800 (£500) each to go to game farms, take a few shots with small calibre rifles and then pose next to rhinos killed by someone else. | |
| "The hunters were a front for our decision to export rhino horn for trade and not for trophies," he said in a statement to the Johannesburg court. | |
| "I humbly apologise to the court and to the people of South Africa for my role in this matter," he added. |