KATHMANDU, May 1: "Yes, I did it," said Tanjing Nima Lama, without making any effort whatsoever in his defense. "I did it for money." After the 70-year-old Tibetan admitted to his involvement in the killing of a rhino and then selling its horn, he was slapped with a 13-year jail term. In the April 12 verdict made public only on Thursday, Kamal Jung Kunwar, warden of the Chitwan National Park (CNP), ordered Tanjing to also pay a fine of Rs 100,000. He will have to spend four more years in jail if he fails to pay the fine. "I was dying," said Tanjing in his statement before the verdict was handed down. "I needed money to replace my damaged kidneys. I knew of no other way to make money. So, I did it (wildlife crime). And, I did it again for more money." Tanjing, who faked his death when he was first arrested in 2003 for allegedly killing a rhino, had previously made all possible attempts to avoid the sentence. However, this time around, he made no such attempt, according to Kunwar. "He easily confessed his crime this time," said Kunwar. "He did not even hire a lawyer.” Last time, Tanjing was arrested from his Bauddha (Kathmandu) residence in October, 2011. In another case, he has already been sentenced to 15 years in jail. This is the second time that he has been slapped with a jail sentence. As per the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act-1973, one has to serve the longest jail sentence if he gets convicted in more than two cases. Tanjing Nima Lama (File photo) Tanjing was last arrested on the basis of a clue by Khim Bahadur KC, who hails from Lung village of Pyuthan district. When Khim Bahadur, who is also known as Maheshwor, was arrested for allegedly killing a rhino in Madi area of the CNP, involvement of others, including Tanjing, had been established. When the police, acting on a tip-off provided by Khim Bahadur arrested Tanjing last time, it was learnt that he was arrested even in 2003 for wildlife crime. But, back then, he was believed dead. According to Kunwar, Tanjing, soon after his first arrest, fell sick. He received a permission to go to India for treatment. Later, Tanjing´s family produced his death certificate, which claimed that he died while undergoing treatment in India. The case was then dismissed. He was almost forgotten. But, after Khim Bahadur´s arrest, the CNP authorities learnt that Tanjing was still alive and was involved in killing more rhinos. This time, he has been convicted of selling the horn of a rhino killed inside Balmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar, India. According to Tika Ram Poudel, spokesperson for the CNP, three more people along with Tanjing have been convicted of killing one-horned rhino in India. Conservation authorities say arrests and convictions of dreaded wildlife poachers like Tanjing are the reasons behind Nepal´s success in celebrating two Zero Poaching Years since 2011. However, according to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), about 350 people charged with killing wildlife, some of them already convicted, are still at large, posing threats to Nepal´s endangered wild animals like tigers and rhinos. (Source : Republica)