FICKSBURG – A Chinese national, Tianping Chen (47), was found guilty of the unlawful possession of abalone species and subsequently slapped with a sentence to either pay a fine or face direct imprisonment.
The Ficksburg Magistrates’ Court sentenced the abalone smuggler to a fine of R10 000 or ten months’ imprisonment during proceedings held on Friday, 1 August.
Mojalefa Senokoatsane, spokesperson for the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), said the accused Chen pleaded guilty to charges of contravening the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998.
“He was found in possession of 26 abalone organisms, which he failed to produce a valid permit authorising possession or transportation of the protected marine species. The abalone was immediately confiscated and transferred to the Department of Fisheries in Cape Town for proper handling and verification.”
Mojalefa Senokoatsane, spokesperson for the NPA
He said Chen was arrested on 21 November last year near the Port of Entry in Ficksburg.
Senokoatsane said the case against Chen was prosecuted under the guidance of Chief Prosecutor Sello Matlhoko of the Bloemfontein Cluster in the Free State division of the NPA. He said the prosecution has welcomed the outcome of the matter, adding this forms part of the ongoing efforts to safeguard South Africa’s marine biodiversity from illegal harvesting and trade.
“These efforts include not only securing convictions but also disrupting the financial flows of environmental criminal networks,” said Senokoatsane.
