Abalone kingpin makes offer

ABALONE kingpin Julian Brown, convicted of racketeering and contravening the Marine Living Act, told the Port Elizabeth High Court yesterday that he was prepared to upgrade impoverished Walmer Township 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, under court order. 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 recalled an incident when Brown saved an elderly man while his vehicle was being torched by angry protesters.

“My brother has a heart of gold. He built houses from the ground for people who did not have and sent a Malawian employee back home because he had not seen his family for five years,” she said.

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 child, 2, 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 really don’t know a lot about his life or personal affairs,” she said.

In aggravation of sentence, the State highlighted that Brown was never prosecuted for possession of abalone and emphasised that the value of abalone was irrelevant. It’s not necessary to prove how much money he made… the point is that he operated under organised crime, criminal style,” said Le Roux. |