Abalone kingpin wants to ‘upgrade’ township

Abalone kingpin Julian Brown, convicted of racketeering and contravening the Marine Living Act, told the Eastern Cape High Court in Port Elizabeth yesterday he was prepared to upgrade an impoverished Walmer township for the community as part of his sentence.

Brown was emotional when called to testify in mitigation of sentence and said he was prepared to upgrade the township as a form of punishment.

His sister, Nicola Hutton, 34, was also called as a witness and said Brown created work opportunities, through his construction business, for struggling communities.

Hutton said Brown would be a bigger asset outside jail than behind bars and begged the court for mercy.

She also asked the court to consider Brown’s partner, Tania, and her two-year-old child, who were dependent on him.

However, when state prosecutor Martin le Roux cross-examined Hutton, she became defensive, claiming she had no idea about Brown’s involvement in the illegal abalone trade and had no knowledge of his assets.

Le Roux questioned Hutton’s claim that brother and sister were “close” but appeared to have no knowledge of his affairs. “I’ve got a stellar job, I’m married, I really don’t know a lot about his life or personal affairs,” she said.

Defence advocate Terry Price asked the court to impose a noncustodial sentence and said there was no evidence Brown benefitted financially from the enterprise. – ANA