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THE environment minister yesterday announced proposed increases to penalties for poaching. Making the announcement in parliament yesterday, minister Pohamba Shifeta said the fine for elephant and rhino poaching would increase from the current maximum of N$200 000 to N$25 million, and the period of imprisonment from the current 20 to 25 years.
The ministry also proposes increasing the fine related to poaching of all other specially protected species from the current maximum of N$20 000 to N$10 million, and the imprisonment period from five to 10 years.
Similarly, the proposal is also to increase the fine for the poaching of all protected species from the current maximum N$4 000 to N$500 000, and the imprisonment period from four to five years, as well as increasing the fine for poaching all other species from the current maximum of N$2 000 to N$500 000, and the imprisonment period from two to five years.
Shifeta said the propsed amendments to the Nature Conservation Ordinance of 1975 also seek to increase general penalties in line with the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act of 2010 by increasing the fine for first-time offenders from the current maximum of N$250 to N$6 000, and the imprisonment period from three to six months.
And for subsequent offending, the fine will increase from the current N$500 to N$12 000, and the imprisonment period from six to 12 months.
Shifeta requested parliament to pass the Nature Conservation Amendment Bill as tabled in order to improve the legal framework for protecting wildlife resources.
He said last year, 260 cases of elephant and rhino poaching, as well as illegal possession and export of rhino horns and elephant tusks, were reported.
“On a positive note, 222 suspects were arrested. However, arrests and even convictions cannot be deterrent enough if penalties are low,” he said.
Source: http://www.namibian.com.na/51427/read/Increases-in-poaching-fines-sentences-coming
The ministry also proposes increasing the fine related to poaching of all other specially protected species from the current maximum of N$20 000 to N$10 million, and the imprisonment period from five to 10 years.
Similarly, the proposal is also to increase the fine for the poaching of all protected species from the current maximum N$4 000 to N$500 000, and the imprisonment period from four to five years, as well as increasing the fine for poaching all other species from the current maximum of N$2 000 to N$500 000, and the imprisonment period from two to five years.
Shifeta said the propsed amendments to the Nature Conservation Ordinance of 1975 also seek to increase general penalties in line with the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act of 2010 by increasing the fine for first-time offenders from the current maximum of N$250 to N$6 000, and the imprisonment period from three to six months.
And for subsequent offending, the fine will increase from the current N$500 to N$12 000, and the imprisonment period from six to 12 months.
Shifeta requested parliament to pass the Nature Conservation Amendment Bill as tabled in order to improve the legal framework for protecting wildlife resources.
He said last year, 260 cases of elephant and rhino poaching, as well as illegal possession and export of rhino horns and elephant tusks, were reported.
“On a positive note, 222 suspects were arrested. However, arrests and even convictions cannot be deterrent enough if penalties are low,” he said.
Source: http://www.namibian.com.na/51427/read/Increases-in-poaching-fines-sentences-coming
