The appellants brought an appeal against the sentences handed down to them by the Magistrate, for being in possession of a live pangolin in contravention of teh Controlled Wildlife Act. The sentence imposed was 24 months imprisonment of which 12 months were suspended for 5 years on appropriate conditions. The court of appeal would interfere with the sentence imposed if it appears that the Magistrate materially misdirected himself on the facts or the applicable law, or that the sentence is so severe that it will induce a sense of shock. Otherwise, the appeal court’s powers to interfere on the imposed sentence are limited. It was therefore for the appeal court to determine whether the circumstances warranted an interference in the sentence handed down by the Magistrate. The Court held that the Magistrate imposed an appropriate sentence and no material irregularity was established. Even more, the sentence was not so severe as to be considered shockingly inappropriate. The appeal was dismissed.