The Khayelitsha Regional Court yesterday slapped members of an abalone syndicate with a suspended sentence.
An investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) exposed a syndicate involved with the poaching, buying, and selling of illicit abalone in the Western Cape as well as in the Gauteng area during February 2020. All the suspects were arrested during February 2020 including a Chinese buyer and processor.
On the 19 April 2021 the accused entered into Sec 105A plea in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.
Jeremia Abraham’s (42) and Romania Curtis Hans (26) were found guilty on one (1) charge of the Marine Living Resource Act(Act no.18 of 1998) Transporting of abalone.
Frederick Myburgh (49) and Angelo Charles (41) pleaded guilty on two (2 )counts of the Marine Living Resources act Transporting of Abalone.
Albert Van Niekerk(33) and Ashley Cloete (32) pleaded guilty on three (3) counts of the Marine Living Resources Act Transporting of Abalone.
All accused were sentenced to two (2) years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years with stringent conditions. Additionally, all Abalone and equipment seized were forfeited to the state.
Meanwhile, on 09 February 2021, Solomon Sauls the kingpin of the group in the Western Cape pleaded guilty to POCA charge and contravention of the Marine Living Resources Act where he had already been sentenced to six (6) years direct imprisonment.
