Six men accused of being part of an abalone syndicate in Gauteng and the Western Cape have been sentenced at the Khayelitsha Regional Court after being nabbed by the Hawks.
The men, who were arrested in February 2020, entered into a plea deal with the state after the investigation into a Chinese buyer and abalone processor where they were identified as the drivers.
Hawks’ Zinzi Hani says the investigation exposed the syndicate responsible for poaching, buying and selling poached perly in the Cape and Gauteng.
“All the suspects were arrested during February 2020 which included a Chinese buyer and processor.
“On 19 April the drivers of the syndicate entered into a plea deal in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act.”
She says Jeremia Abrahams, 42, and Romania Hans, were found guilty on one charge under the Marine Living Resources Act, while Frederick Myburgh, 49, and Angelo Charles, 41, were found guilty on two charges under the same act.
Hani says two more suspects Albert Van Niekerk, 33, and Ashley Cloete, 32, were found guilty on three counts of transporting abalone.
“All accused were sentenced to two years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years with stringent conditions. Additionally all abalone and equipment seized was forfeited to the state.”
Hani added that Solomon Sauls, the kingpin of the group, on 9 February pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years in jail.