The accused were charged with the unlawful exportation of controlled wildlife products:14 rhino horns on the first count and a leopard skin on the second count, as well as money laundering on count 3. They were discharged on count 3 but convicted on count 1 and 2 and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment, 30 months and 28 months suspended for 5 years. The 4th appellant was discharged on all counts on the basis that he was not present when the appellants were arrested. The appellants appealed against their conviction and sentence on the basis that the trial court did not assess all the evidence placed before it and that it the convictions were based on suspicions. Further, that the 14 years imprisonment was inappropriate and startling shocking. The court considered the evidence and the manner in which it was obtained. The court found that the manner in which the evidence was obtained at the airport, and then subsequently discovered through the means of an investigation, was not unjust. The court looked at CCTV footage, as well as photographs, and questioned the accused at length and held that there had been continuous possession and control of the unlawful wildlife products. Further, the fact that the 4th appellant was not present at the airport cannot extricate him from the blame. The appeal court found that the court below erred in not convicting the 4th appellant. The court further considered the definition of “deal in” and found that the appellants had either bought or bartered the rhino horns and leopard skin in order to acquire possession thereof. Thus, they were dealing in unlawful products, with the purpose to export same. It is clear form the evidence that the all 4 of the appellants were acting jointly in the commission of the offence. Having regard to the sentence, the court found that court below considered all the relevant mitigating factors, such as the accused being first time offenders, personal circumstances, the period that they had spent in custody etc. The court found that Rhino’s are peaceful animals, and when hunters poach them, they leave their carcasses to rot. Thus, the only purpose of being found in possession thereof is to launder and to bring the tourism industry to its knees.