Four suspects were recently sentenced to eight years direct imprisonment for illegal dealing in and possession of a pangolin, in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court.
Mashoko Manhondo (43), Joseph Masava (33), Jeffrey Ruzvidzo (29) and Hebert Dzingai (24) were arrested during a sting operation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit at Flamingo Shopping Centre, in Boksburg North, in October.
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According to Hawks spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu, the arrests were made after information was received about a group of men selling a pangolin in Daveyton.
“A sting operation was conducted during which the accused met with the potential buyer and this is when the arrests were made. The unharmed pangolin was handed to the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries,” Mulamu said.
Upon sentencing, the four were also declared unfit to possess firearms and cited for being in contravention of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act.
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