Hawks spokesperson, Christopher Singo, says Jinghuan Zhen, Randy Alfred Mapoe, David Mbewu, Thabiso Johannes Khaile, and Marvin Fazel Kekana were sentenced to fines or four and five years of imprisonment.

He says authorities led by the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation team seized abalone valued at over R10 million. Zhen was fined R100 000 (with R90 000 suspended for five years). The others were fined R10 000 each, payable by 28 July 2023 or they will go to jail for four years. 

OFM News previously reported that the Hawks conducted a search operation where they uncovered dry and wet abalone with an estimated street value of more than R7 million. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.

ALSO READ: Hawks arrest six in Bfn with abalone worth R7million

“Their conviction originates from an incident which took place in December 2021 when police received information about suspects who were processing abalone in Bayswater, Bloemfontein,” says Singo.

OFM News also reported on a similar incident where the Free State police have recovered abalone estimated at a street value of R310 000 in Bloemfontein.

ALSO READ: Abalone of almost half a million recovered in Mangaung 

OFM News