WILDLEX

From March to April 2016, the defendant Deng purchased one piece of ivory carving and a piece of ivory necklace from the WeChat friend Tong through the WeChat for a total of RMB 740.

On January 18, 2016, Mo traded through the Internet, using WeChat transfer payment and express delivery, and purchased an ivory necklace from WeChat name "Zhenwogaishi" (the real name was Shang) at a price of 1300 yuan. The purchase purpose was for personal play.

At the heart of this matter were the customary rights to marine resources. The appellants were tried at the Magistrate court and later appealed to the High Court in Mthatha. The Hight Court, however, held that their conduct was unlawful because they had not applied for an exemption as contemplated in the MLRA, granting them a permit to fish.

The court held that the appellants were protecting the lives of the cubs and as well as their legal interest in the survical of the cubs as the owners of the very expensive animals.

The appellant was found to have been complicit in the transaction where a fake rhino horn was sold in a police trap for R350 000. He was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment. The appellant unsuccessfully appealed to the Free State High Court against his conviction and sentence.