CHINESE NATIONAL FINED FOR UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF ABALONE IN FICKSBURG
01 August 2025
CHINESE NATIONAL FINED FOR UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF ABALONE IN FICKSBURG
Ficksburg, Free State – The Ficksburg Magistrates’ Court has convicted and sentenced Chinese national, Tianping Chen (47), for the unlawful possession of abalone without the required permit. He was found guilty of contravening Section 36(1)(a) and (b) of the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998, read with Section 96 of the same Act.
On 21 November 2024, the accused was apprehended near the Port of Entry in Ficksburg, within the Thabo Mofutsanyana District in the Eastern Free State. He was found in possession of 26 abalone organisms and failed to produce a valid permit authorising possession or transportation of the protected marine species. The abalone was immediately confiscated and transferred to the Department of Fisheries in Cape Town for proper handling and verification. Chen pleaded guilty to the charges. The court sentenced him to a fine of R10 000 or 10 months’ imprisonment.
The case was prosecuted by State Prosecutor [First Name] Nale, under the guidance of Chief Prosecutor Sello Matlhoko of the Bloemfontein Cluster in the Free State Division of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The NPA welcomes the conviction and sentence as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard South Africa’s marine biodiversity from illegal harvesting and trade.
The NPA remains committed to working with law enforcement and environmental authorities to ensure accountability in environmental crimes. These efforts include not only securing convictions but also disrupting the financial flows of environmental criminal networks.
Issued by:
Mojalefa Senokoatsane
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Free State Division
073 423 3539