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Three men have been sentenced by the Graaff Reinet regional court in terms of a plea agreement in a 2023 abalone case.
Eastern Cape police said Frank Barends, Mannetjie Chaka, and Brandon Lamont, were sentenced on Monday after the court accepted the plea agreement with the state.
Police spokesperson, Warrant-Officer Majola Nkohli, said Barends was sentenced to a fine of R150 000- or 24-months imprisonment, of which R50 000- or eight-months imprisonment was suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of a similar charge during the period of suspension.
He said Barends was also sentenced to 12 months imprisonment or a fine of R 2 000 on a count of fraud.
Nkholi said Chaka was sentenced to a fine of R75 000 fine or 18 months imprisonment, of which R25 000- or 10-months imprisonment was conditionally suspended for five years.
“Lamont was sentenced to pay R100 000 fine or 24 months imprisonment, of which R50 000- or 12-months imprisonment was suspended for five (5) years on condition that he is not convicted for a similar charge during the period of suspension,” Nkohli said.
He said all three accused were also declared unfit to possess a firearm or ammunition while the Porsche SUV was forfeited to the State.
Nkohli said the three were traveling on the R75 in two vehicles, a blue Toyota Camry and a gold Porsche with a trailer, towards Jansenville, when they were stopped by police.
He said officers searched the vehicles and found a total of 9 398 units of abalone valued at R 1 057 360.
