WILDLEX

From May to July 2018, Jingchao W. illegally purchased wild heron birds at a price ranging from 30 yuan to 50 yuan from Sun (sentenced) and others, and the birds were used to process into dishes for himself and his friends. Jingchao W. paid 4,477 yuan for the purchase of wild birds (dead bodies) to Sun through Wechat transfer. Jingchao W.

From April to June 2018, Xigui X. illegally purchased wild heron birds at a price ranging from 40 yuan to 60 yuan from Sun (sentenced) and others, and the birds were used to process into dishes for himself and his friends. Xigui X. paid 4,471 yuan for the purchase of wild birds (dead bodies) to Sun through Wechat transfer. Xigui X.

From 2018 to the time of the incident, Yinli X., Shipeng Y., Penglong L. and Daqian Y. purchased and sold rhino horn products through WeChat. Starting from March 2019, four people began to buy shares of rhino horn products and stored them in a room in Shiguang Apartment, Linan Town, Xianyou County. Among them, Yinli X.

From 2018 to the time of the incident, Yinli X., Shipeng Y., Penglong L. and Daqian Y. purchased and sold rhino horn products through WeChat. Starting from March 2019, four people began to buy shares of rhino horn products and stored them in a room in Shiguang Apartment, Linan Town, Xianyou County. Among them, Yinli X.

From May to July 2018, Yisun H. illegally purchased wild heron birds at a price ranging from 25 yuan to 40 yuan from Sun (sentenced) and others, and the birds were used in restaurants to process into dishes for customers. Yisun H. paid 10,460 yuan for the purchase of wild birds (dead bodies) to Sun through Wechat transfer. Yisun H.

From April to July 2018, Zhonggui Z. illegally purchased wild heron birds at a price ranging from 27 yuan to 40 yuan from Sun (sentenced) and others, and the birds were used in restaurants to process into dishes for customers. Zhonggui Z. paid 4,083 yuan for the purchase of wild birds (dead bodies) to Sun through Wechat transfer. Zhonggui Z.

From 2018 to the time of the incident, Yinli X., Shipeng Y., Penglong L. and Daqian Y. purchased and sold rhino horn products through WeChat. Starting from March 2019, four people began to buy shares of rhino horn products and stored them in a room in Shiguang Apartment, Linan Town, Xianyou County. Among them, Yinli X.

The accused were charged with various counts in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (“POCA”). The court was presented with evidence which led to the accused’s’ arrest. During the trial, it became apparent that there was an informer who was working for the Scorpions and was gathering information of the crime syndicate.

The court considered an appeal against the sentenced imposed on the appellants on the basis that they are shockingly inappropriate and out of kilter with other cases and that the court below didn’t take into account their personal circumstances.

On 17 – 18 June 2016 at Bucklands Farm, in the district of Albany, in the course of which a white rhino known as Cambell, belonging to one Ian Steward, was darted with a tranquilizer gun and its horn removed, resulting in the death of the rhino. The police were working on Operation Full Moon as Rhino poaching was rife.