WILDLEX

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.

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.

From April to July 2018, Danyan J., Guohua W. and Jinxia S. drove several times to Shaowu and Wuyi Mountain to hunt birds. Among them, Danyan J. and Guohua W. were responsible for shooting birds, and Jinxia S. was responsible for driving and selling birds at a price ranging from 15 yuan to 50 yuan to many restaurants and individuals.

From May to July 2018, Dingbiao X. illegally purchased wild heron birds at a price ranging from 40 yuan to 50 yuan from Sun (sentenced) and others, and the birds were used in restaurants to process into dishes for customers. Dingbiao X. paid 4160 yuan for the purchase of wild birds (dead bodies) to Sun through Wechat transfer seven times.