Twenty-one men, including an abalone right-holder, are currently appearing in the Western Cape High Court to answer to various charges under the Marine Living Resources Act (MLRA), 1998. It is the first time that a violation under the MLRA is heard in a high court in South Africa.
It is alleged that these men have been involved in the illegal harvesting, processing and exporting of more than 218 072 units of abalone.
Working with the Hawks, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, successfully had two containers returned from Hong Kong in 2007 following credible information that the two different cargos contained close to 3.2 tons of abalone. In both cases the abalone was exported as sardines for which an export permit was not required.
Six pleaded guilty this morning (Monday, 16 April 2012) and might be sentenced this afternoon (after 2pm) while the case against the other fifteen is expected to continue tomorrow.
All of them are also charged with various accounts of money laundering and racketeering under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 1998.
For more information and/or comment, please contact:
Lionel Adendorf
Cell: 076 267 583
