CNP chief Kamal Jung Kuwar handed down 15-year jail terms to Kaji Man Chepang of Korak VDC, Chitwan district. Likewise, four others, who are family members of Kuwar, have been handed down prison sentences ranging from five to 10 years and slapped fines of Rs 50,000 to 100,000, said CNP. [break]
The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act has entrusted the chief conservation officer at CNP with overseeing cases on wildlife poaching. Those convicted can appeal against the verdicts.
The five were convicted of killing nine rhinos between 2006 and 2010.
CNP on Wednesday announced the verdict in accordance with the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973. As per the Act, anyone convicted of wildlife poaching can be fined up to Rs. 100,000 or failed for five to 15 years or both.
The sentences have been pronounced two years after their arrest.
A Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) team arrested Chepang on February 25, 2011. After his arrest, the CIB team also nabbed his two wives, Dil Maya and Sanu Maya, his sister Kalpana and aunt Devi Maya Chepang.
The women were sentenced to jail after they were also found guilty of involvement in the poaching and smuggling, said CNP officials.
Kaji Man, who had been absconding for a long time, has been handed down the longest possible jail term under the Act, said Chief Kuwar, adding, he has also been slapped a fine of Rs. 100,000.
Though hearings in the Kaji Man case concluded last month, CNP handed down the sentences only on Wednesday. CNP is yet to make public further details about the case.
Meanwhile, talking to this correspondent, Kaji Man denied the charges leveled against him. He said he has never killed any rhino or gouged rhino horn. However, he said it was true he used to work with infamous rhino smuggler Raj Kumar Chepang. "But I never was involved in the poaching. I was just a porter carrying the rhino horn,” he said.
According to him, Raj Kumar has fled aboard with the use of a fake Nepali citizenship certificate.
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