Five foreign nationals were sentenced to varying prison terms after they were arrested for attempting to smuggle R8-million worth of perlemoen (abalone), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Friday.
Three Chinese and two Zimbabweans appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday where judgment was handed down, said NPA spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi.
The men were arrested in May, after investigations led by the Scorpions uncovered two perlemoen farms — one at Buffelspoort in Rustenburg and the other at Bedfordview in Johannesburg.
”Abalone worth over R8-million was seized, together with abalone-drying equipment valued at over R100 000 … computers, firearms and cash to the value of over R1-million.”
Three vehicles — a Mercedes-Benz, a bakkie and a panel van — were also confiscated.
Xshi Xus Lei, Yang Shu Qing and Mduduzi Khumalo were sentenced to four years and four months each, while Mai Rui Xuau and Ntokozo Nyathi received one year and four months each.
The case against another Chinese national was withdrawn and he was deported to Hong Kong.
Nkosi said a South African, Benny Basson, was arrested on August 4 for attempting to transport dried perlemoen worth R1-million to Namibia. His consignment of perlemoen was confiscated at the Botswana border post.
”Today’s [Friday] sentences are the most substantial ever passed by a magistrate’s court in the northern provinces for abalone-related offences. The NPA and the Directorate of Special Operations in particular hope that the sentences will send a very strong message to the foreign nationals who plunder the country’s natural resources for their own ill-gotten gains,” Nkosi said. — Sapa