Admissibility of evidence to be tested as perlemoen trial starts
The trial-within-a-trial to determine the admissibility of evidence in the case against two men who were arrested for being part of a perlemoen poaching syndicate started in the Gqeberha regional court yesterday.
Raymond Taylor and Roland Hudson were arrested on May 6 2022, after a twomonth joint investigation named Project Perfect Storm.
Taylor and Hudson, who were released on bail of R150,000 and R20,000, respectively, appeared in court yesterday.
The trial-within-a-trial is to determine the admissibility of recordings made by authorities shortly before their arrest.
According to the charge sheet, they face 11 charges, including corruption.
The two men allegedly approached an Addo Elephant National Park field ranger to assist them with the illegal diving and catching of perlemoen at Bird Island — a marine protected area within the Addo Elephant National Park.
The state alleges that the official informed the syndicate when it was safe to dive at Bird Island, what the weather and sea conditions were like at the island, and when SANParks or other law-enforcement vessels were responding to perlemoen poaching incidents at or near Bird Island.
Hudson and Taylor’s lawyers, Jurie Hayes and Gavin Knight, said their clients were innocent.
“This is a witch-hunt,” Knight said.
“They were innocent from the get-go and they still maintain that.”
Hayes echoed Knight’s sentiments.
“The trial-within-a-trial is under way and it’s quite clear that the authorities are on a witch-hunt here and it’s quite scary to boot as it shows police can arrest anyone wherever they want without enough evidence.
“To date, they haven’t confiscated anything from the accused.”
The matter resumes today.