Two men — a South African and a Thailand national — were found guilty of unlawful possession of rhino horns by the Middelburg Regional Court, Mpumalanga police said on Friday.

John Olivier (51) and Kritsada Jangjumrus (40) were on Thursday found guilty under Section 22 of the Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act - Act 10 of 1998, Captain Leonard Hlathi said.

Olivier was fined R120 000 or four-years imprisonment and Jangjumrus was fined R80 000 or four-years imprisonment.

On 30 September, five suspects — John Olivier (51), Kritsada Jangjumrus (40), Sukana Naudea (31), Prompitak Chunvhom (42) and 37-year-old Tool Saiton — approached a police officer wanting to buy three rhino horns.

"They met the police officer in the Delmas, Boskrog area. They wanted to buy the three horns for $60 000 (R500 000) from the police officer.

"Olivier said he wanted to buy them for Naudea as a gift," said Hlathi.

After the deal was concluded, the police officer arrested the suspects, said Hlathi.

The white Mazda Etude they were travelling in was impounded. Police also impounded five cellphones and R2000 in cash.

The case against Naudea, Chunvhom and Saiton was withdrawn. The R500 000 was forfeited to the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, said Hlathi.

Sapa