DAFF in American court for resentencing proceedings in the famous Bengis case
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) was in the American Court in the Southern District of New York on Wednesday 12 July 2017 arguing and convincing the United State District Judge Lewis Kaplan to order restitution and forfeiture of the proceeds of crime emanating from the West Coast Rock Lobster which had been poached by Mr Arlnod Bengis. This is but one of the tireless efforts of the Department to protect the Fisheries Resources by ensuring that Illegal Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing does not pay.
The DAFF has also succeeded in securing a restitution and repatriation of about R40 Million from Mr Bengis Assets through the American legal system. DAFF, after having spared no effort in convincing the American Court, is also positive that the sought forfeiture order of approximately $100 Million of the proceeds of crime from which Mr Bengis has benefitted through poaching and Exporting West Coast Rock Lobster would be granted by Judge Kaplan.
We would like to reiterate that the South African Fisheries Resources belong to the South African communities and DAFF will spare no effort in fighting the scourge of Illegal Unregulated and Unreported Fishing. We are committed to promote the rule of law and to send a message that poaching of the Marine Living Resources does not pay and DAFF will stop at nothing to ensure that the full might of the law is applied against anyone who is found to be robbing the South African communities by stealing their invaluable fisheries resources.
For further information contact:
Thembalethu Vico
Cell: 079 692 7122
Tel: 021 402 3074
E-mail: ThembalethuV@daff.gov.za
