Chinese National Shi Zhuming (51), has been convicted as charged for illegal possession of Crayfish, which is a protected species in terms of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity (NEMBA) Act.
In a statement written by the South African Police Services, huming was arrested on Thursday, 04 January 2024, after a complaint was received about her carrying 158 live Crayfish in her luggage.
She had just arrived at OR-Tambo International (ORTIA) from Harare.
The protected species was seized and handed over to the environmental authorities for processing.
Zhuming who reportedly stay near East Gate was immediately detained and consequently appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court where she was granted R30 000 bail.
The court has on Monday, 06 May 2024 sentenced Zhuming to a fine of R50 000, as well as a five 5 years suspended sentence provided she is not found guilty of a similar offence under the NEMBA Act.
Two Chinese nationals were sentenced in the Khayelitsha Priority Court following their discovery of abalone at an illicit fish processing facility.
Chaoyuan He, aged 28, and Jie Jun Liang, aged 27, were apprehended in a collaborative effort involving the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s (Hawks) Serious Organised Crime Investigation team stationed in Bellville, Crime Intelligence Counter Narcotics and Gangs Western Cape, and the Department of Forestry, Fishery, and the Environment.
According to IOL, the pair reached a plea agreement with the State.
According to Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, the Western Cape spokesperson for the Hawks, they were apprehended in October 2021.
In October 2021, the members executed a search warrant at Welgemoed in Bellville. On arrival at the premises, it was established that the premises were being used as an illegal fish processing facility. They discovered and seized 11,321 units of dried abalone with an estimated value of approximately R6.5 million.
Four suspects were arrested, two Chinese males and two Zimbabwean males who were found on the premises.
They were eventually arrested and charged with operating an illegal fish processing establishment and the illegal possession of abalone, Hani said.
All four suspects were granted bail.
They were accused of various offences under Section 44(2) of the Marine Living Resources Act, Act 18 of 1998, including landing, selling, receiving, or possessing fish obtained unlawfully.
Both He and Liang received a sentence of either an R1 million fine or five years’ imprisonment, which was wholly suspended for five years.
Additionally, for operating a fish processing facility without authorization under Section 18(1) of the Marine Living Resources Act, Act 18 of 1998, they were each fined R1 million or faced a five-year suspended imprisonment, valid for five years.
