Windhoek doctor Daniel Jordaan, who is accused of illegally possessing leopards, cheetahs and baboons at his farm, was granted bail of N$100 000 (R100 000). Prosecutor Hilma Mwata said some of the charges Jordaan was facing could lead to a fine of up to N$15m if found guilty.
According to The Namibian, the state said in court last week that Jordaan allegedly threatened to kill an official from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry & Tourism who investigated him.
Jordaan appeared in the Okahandja Magistrate's Court and is expected to appear again on 7 April. Court documents show that Jordaan was arraigned because the authorities allegedly discovered he was keeping wild animals illegally on his farm Okaimpuro in the Okahandja district. The authorities allegedly found six leopards, two cheetahs and two baboons on his farm. The animals have a combined value of N$1m (R1m), the charge sheet says.
Jordaan now faces seven counts related to the contravention of the Nature Conservation Ordinance pertaining to the illegal hunting of protected game, capturing and keeping game without a licence, transporting game without a licence, illegal hunting, the possession of controlled wildlife products, the illegal capturing of large carnivores, and confining an animal to a place which affords inadequate space.
The Nambian article – Doctor accused of wildlife crime gets N$100 000 bail (Open access)
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