Trio in court for 5 ton abalone bust

A bag of dried abalone. File Photo: Mike Hutchings

A bag of dried abalone. File Photo: Mike Hutchings

Published Sep 16, 2014

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Johannesburg - Three men appeared in the Vosloorus District Court for allegedly being in possession of around five tons of perlemoen, a senior prosecutor said on Tuesday.

“The three accused did appear in court. They were kept in custody and (the matter was) postponed to September 22 for bail application,” senior prosecutor Henk Strydom said.

For the purposes of bail, the matter would be heard at the district court, and following that, the matter would be transferred to the Vosloorus Regional Court where it would remain for finalisation.

On Saturday, Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago of the Ekurhuleni metro police said it appeared the men, Chinese nationals, were arrested at a house in Lemoen Street in Boksburg.

Frozen and dried perlemoen valued around R3 million were found in the house, which was equipped with large freezers, gas cylinders and various chemicals believed to be used to process the protected marine molluscs.

“The three arrested men, whose ages are 20, 23 and 27, and with apparently dodgy work permits, were charged with possession and dealing in an endangered species at Dawn Park police station,” Kgasago said.

Sapa

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