Man who illegally brought 6kg of rhino horn and ivory into Hong Kong has jail sentence doubled to 4 months
Chinese businessman Liu Xin’s sentence first to be reviewed since city toughened penalties for unlawful wildlife trade
A businessman convicted of illegally bringing rhino horn and ivory into Hong Kong from South Africa had his jail term doubled to four months on Friday in the first sentence review conducted since the city toughened penalties for unlawful wildlife trade.
Defendant Liu Xin, a Chinese businessman, was originally scheduled to be released on Monday after being sentenced to two months in jail in early June for flying to the city from Johannesburg with 5.9kg of rhino horn and 410 grams of ivory with a value of HK$1.2 million (US$153,800).
But prosecutors called for a sentence review after the penalties for offences under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance were increased to a maximum fine of HK$10 million and 10 years’ imprisonment on May 1.
Previously, the maximum penalty was HK$5 million and two years’ jail.
Acting senior assistant director of public prosecutions Franco Kuan asked the court to increase the starting point for Liu’s sentence to 12 months and for a fine to be imposed.