Thai man pleads guilty to smuggling rhino horn from South Africa
Women posed as big game hunters as part of ring trafficking rhino horns
A Thai man has pleaded guilty to smuggling rhino horn from South Africa, in a bizarre case in which prostitutes posed as big game hunters to conceal an international trafficking ring.
Chumlong Lemtongthai is likely to be jailed for more than 10 years under Monday's plea deal that investigators said sealed one of the most important prosecutions in their fight to protect rhinos, whose horns are worth more than gold in parts of Southeast Asia.
Taking advantage of the fact that it is legal for foreigners to hunt rhinos in South Africa and ship horns overseas as trophies, Chumlong hired Thai prostitutes to stage fake hunts.
The women were given about US$800 each to fly to South Africa, visit game farms, take a few shots with small-calibre rifles and then pose next to rhinos killed by someone else, according to affidavits presented to the court.
"The hunters were a front for our decision to export rhino horn for trade and not for trophies," Chumlong told a Johannesburg court.
"I humbly apologise to the court and to the people of South Africa for my role in this matter," he said.