From December 2009 to April 2010, the defendants Huang Yawen, Chen Song, Cheng Zhiqiang and Fu Qiang were twice employed by Pangma (handed separately) to help NG SOO HEONG (nicknamed "tall guys") smuggle frozen pangolin and scales into China by a wooden fishing vessel "Pearl Bay, 3815". Huang Yawen was responsible for sailing and the other 3 defendants moved the goods. Each of them got paid more than 8000 yuan and several pangolins.
On June 6 2010, NG SOO HEONG, Huang Yawen and other 3 people were arrested by Jiangmen Customs when they were discharging the smuggled items in waters off the Zhuhai Airport. Customs officials seized 2090 frozen pangolins (7850kg) in 30 boxes, and 92 cases of pangolin scales weighing 1,800 kg. The smuggled pangolins and scales were worth nearly 5.2 million yuan (RMB 5,197,040).
The Intermediate People’s Court of Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province
On April 2, 2001, based on the criminal facts and circumstances of the defendant and the degree of harm to the society, The Intermediate People’s Court of Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province rendered the following judgment:
Defendant: NG SOO HEONG
Verdict: Guilty
Charge/Claim: Smuggling
Term of imprisonment: life sentence
Fine/Payment to the State: Confiscation of all personal property
Defendant: Huang Yawen
Verdict: Guilty
Charge/Claim: Smuggling rare animals
Term of imprisonment: 10 years, deprival of political rights for 2 years
Fine/Payment to the State: 500,000 RMB
Defendant: Chen Song
Verdict: Guilty
Charge/Claim: Smuggling rare animals
Term of imprisonment: 5 years
Fine/Payment to the State: 300,000 RMB
Defendant: Fu Qiang
Verdict: Guilty
Charge/Claim: Smuggling rare animals
Term of imprisonment: 5 years
Fine/Payment to the State: 300,000 RMB
Defendant: Chen Zhixiong
Verdict: Guilty
Charge/Claim: Smuggling rare animals
Term of imprisonment: 5 years
Fine/Payment to the State: 300,000 RMB
The captured smuggled pangolins and scales were confiscated.
Ng Soo Heong was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Huang Yawen was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Chen Song, Fu Qiang and Chen Zhixiong were sentenced to 5 years imprisonment
Guangdong Provincial High Court
Defendants NG SOO HEONGs, Huang Yawen, Chen Song and Fu Qiang filed an appeal to Guangdong Provincial High Court. The appeal was dismissed.
NG SOO HEONG was nicknamed "tall guys."
1st instance:
The Intermediate People’s Court of Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province:
Jiangmen Intermediate People's Court finds that the defendants NG SOO HEONG, Huang Yawen, Chen Song, Cheng Zhixiong and Fu Qiang, have evaded Chinese customs by smuggling pangolin (protected wildlife species) and scales with a total value of 5,197,040 yuan. The defendants committed an extremely serious offense, according to Article 151 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China and as such, their acts constitutes the crime of smuggling rare animals.
Defendant NG SOO HEONG who was responsible for receiving goods from abroad by sea transport and delivering the smuggled items to the buyer, played a major role in this case and should be charged as the principal offender.
Defendants NG SOO HEONGs, Huang Yawen, Chen Song and Fu Qiang filed an appeal to Guangdong Provincial High Court. The appeal was dismissed.
Guangdong Provincial High Court
