The conservationist in South Africa denies the smuggling of rhino horns worth $ 14 million

A leading environmentalist in South Africa, responsible for passing rhino horns worth $ 14 million (10 million pounds sterling), insisted that he had “nothing to hide”.

In a press release, John Hume, the former owner of what is considered the largest rhino in the world, denied allegations that he has tracked down the horns of South Africa in Southeast Asia.

Mr. Hume, 83, and five other people, including a lawyer and a game reserve manager, appeared before the court for 55 accusations, including theft, money laundering and fraud.

The group would have been part of an International Trafficking Syndicate of Rhino Corneos between 2017 and 2024, prosecutors said.

Mr. Hume and his co-accused are accused of passing over 960 horns, obtaining permits to sell them locally, when the real intention was to export horns to Southeast Asia, where they are used in traditional medicine.

The sale of rhino horns is legal between citizens in South Africa, but exporting them is not authorized.

The accused appeared on Tuesday before a magistrate court in the capital of the capital, Pretoria and was endorsed. They did not argue – it was not required in South Africa during a first appearance in court.

Mr. Hume, however, proclaimed his innocence in a press release.

“I have nothing to hide and I fully cooperated with investigators for years,” he said.

“I categorically reject the allegations against me and I argue that I have never acted illegally. I am convinced that, once the facts will be tested in court, I will be justified and that my innocence has confirmed.”

The old farm of M. Hume, Platinum Rhino, housed about 2,000 white rhinos in the south.

He sold the farm in 2023, saying that he could no longer continue to support rhinos, which he had raised for more than two decades.

Mr. Hume was born in Zimbabwe and grew up on a sheep farm. He has made a living by developing vacation stations, before turning hands towards conservation in the 1990s.