Two Chinese nationals who were arrested recently when they forgot a backpack containing pieces of rhino horn, ivory and passports at a Houtbay restaurant have been deported, police said in a statement.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha said Bingchang Liao (24), and Jiawei Yang (27), had a plea bargain after the two tourists understood that the evidence against them was insurmountable.
“The duo was consequently found guilty for unlawful possession of rhino horn and ivory. They were sentenced to five years imprisonment term, suspended for five years, ordered to pay an amount of R35,000 each, half of which will be go into the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board (WCNCB) and the other half to Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA).”
They have been charged with unlawful possession of Rhino horn and Ivory in contraventions of section 41 (a) and (b) of the Ordinance of Cape Nature Act no 19 of 1974.
The pair were declared as undesirable persons and were subsequently ordered to leave South Africa immediately and banned from returning.
– African News Agency (ANA)
