The appellants, all first offenders, were charged with hunting elephant and rhinoceros. They were charged on the 31 October 1986 for selling two pairs of rhinoceros horns without permit. They were convicted on prohibited dealing in trophies and sentenced to three years imprisonment based on the section they were charged under. They appealed to the High Court; their sentence of imprisonment was upheld. They appealed their sentence arguing that they should have been charged under the appropriate section that allows the imposition of a fine as an alternative to imprisonment. Their appeals were granted and subsequently their imprisonment sentences were set aside instead a fine was imposed.