The sentencing of businessman Yahya Shoeb Jiwa of Makhado (Louis Trichardt) has been postponed yet again.
The 45-year-old Jiwa appeared in the Musina Regional Court on Wednesday. He had already pleaded guilty in July last year on charges relating to restricted activities on a special protected species without the necessary permits. Jiwa was arrested in February 2011 when he tried to buy rhino horns from an undercover police agent.
Since pleading guilty, Jiwa has been awaiting his sentencing. Instead, his defense team has asked for yet another postponement. They requested a pre-sentencing report to be compiled by the Department of Correctional Services to support a petition to ask the court for correctional supervision of Jiwa rather than a jail sentence.
This report was not complete and could not be handed in as evidence on Wednesday. Jiwa's lawyer confirmed that the report will be ready by 18 January, when it will be handed to the magistrate.
Jiwa will then have to appear in court again for sentencing on 15 April.