Latest news with #BlueFin
Daily Maverick
01-07-2025
- Daily Maverick
Acquitted: three Chinese nationals escape legal clutches in R100-million perlemoen smuggling case
Cold storage, pig stomachs and 40 tons of perlemoen weren't enough to land convictions in one of South Africa's biggest marine smuggling cases. On Tuesday, the accused walked — and the State was left empty-handed. Despite a four-year investigation, multiple arrests and more than 40 tons of confiscated illegal perlemoen, three Chinese nationals accused of running a R100-million abalone smuggling racket were acquitted on all charges in the Gqeberha Division of the High Court on Monday, 30 June 2025. In 2018, the Hawks intercepted shipping containers filled with perlemoen in the port of Port Elizabeth. These were quickly linked to several other containers in the Northern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, forming what investigators believed was a strong case against the owners of a Cape Town-based seafood import company. About 40 tons of perlemoen, found hidden in tripe and pig stomachs in cold storage containers, were allegedly linked back to Blue Fin Marine Trading, owned by husband and wife Kai Ou Yang and Hsien-Chu Ou Yang, along with the manager of the company, the wife's younger brother Chu-Kai Peter Chang. However, on Monday Judge Fungile Dotwana found the State had not linked any of the accused directly to the alleged racket, and acquitted them on all charges against them. 'None of the three accused were proven to be in physical possession of perlemoen… and they vehemently denied any involvement in the illicit perlemoen trade. 'Looking at the totality of the evidence, the State has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt,' Dotwana said before excusing the accused from the dock. A trail of containers and cold storage facilities The case before court centred around the activities of Blue Fin, a company founded in 2005 that supplied restaurants and supermarkets in and around Cape Town with imported seafood. It was alleged that the company experienced some financial difficulties and looked for avenues to expand its business. One such option was to export beef and other meat products from South Africa to various ports around the world. However, the State alleged that this was little more than a ruse to cover the illegal export of perlemoen. After receiving information that led to the initial discovery in Gqeberha of 158 boxes of perlemoen hidden among pig stomachs in a container linked back to Blue Fin, the Hawks' investigation attempted to connect the dots between this container and several others across the country. In February 2017 two illegal perlemoen processing facilities in Cape Town were added to the list. In Killarney 28,733 units of perlemoen were recovered, and in Montague Gardens a further 12,266 units were found. Two weeks later, three tons of perlemoen were found in a cold storage facility in Cape Town. The pallets containing the perlemoen allegedly belonged to Blue Fin. Besides the initial bust in Gqeberha, three more containers were intercepted in 2018. Nine tons of perlemoen were found in containers in the Durban harbour, while another 900 boxes of tripe, with perlemoen hidden inside, were found in the Port of Port Elizabeth. The Hawks tailed the final container from a storage facility in Cape Town, following it all the way into the Northern Cape where it broke down about 30km from the town of Springbok. There the container was seized and more than 340kg of perlemoen found inside. Boxes relabelled, but links remain unclear Witnesses before court testified how boxes belonging to Blue Fin were brought to cold storage facilities in Cape Town, taken away by trucks, and returned shortly thereafter with new labels and stickers. Employees at these facilities assisted the Hawks in their investigation, and positively identified boxes labeled to contain 'meaty bones' as the ones containing illegal perlemoen. In their defence, all three accused denied any knowledge or involvement in the illegal perlemoen trade. While several individuals, including truck drivers and employees of Blue Fin, were arrested and convicted of activities related to the illegal trade and transport of perlemoen since 2017, Judge Dotwana found that none of the evidence presented to the court directly tied the owners or the manager to the illicit activities. The accused were represented by Advocate Michael Hulley, who has previously represented former president Jacob Zuma. After proceedings the newly acquitted individuals quickly filed out of the dock and left the court building. When asked if they would like to give any comment on the judgment, Hulley declined on behalf of his clients. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it would consider reviewing the judgment. 'The NPA has noted the judgment in which three Chinese nationals were acquitted in a R100m perlemoen racketeering case. We will study the judgment carefully and consider possible legal avenues to take,' said NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali. DM
Hospitality Net
15-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Luxury Meets Digital Innovation at Newport Harbor Island Resort
Nashville, TN (USA) – Nestled along the stunning waterfront of Newport, Rhode Island, Newport Harbor Island Resort is renowned for its picturesque views, luxury accommodations, and exceptional events. To stay ahead of guest expectations and continue delivering top-tier service, the resort turned to Uniguest's Hotel Hub digital signage technology, seamlessly blending modern convenience with the charm of this coastal retreat. Making Every Moment Memorable With a bustling schedule of weddings, corporate events, and guests exploring the property, the resort needed a way to share information quickly and effortlessly. The challenge was to provide an innovative solution that would enhance communication while preserving the resort's personalized touch. From grand wedding celebrations to everyday stays, Newport Harbor Island Resort wanted to create memorable moments that started as soon as guests stepped through the door. At Newport Harbor Island Resort, we prioritize delivering a seamless and personalized experience for each guest. The integration of Uniguest's digital signage has been instrumental in helping us maintain our high standards of service while introducing modern conveniences. It allows us to communicate with guests efficiently, without compromising the warmth and sophistication our resort is known for. David Smiley, General Manager The installation of Uniguest's digital signage has been a revelation for the property. Four strategically placed digital signage displays are deployed across the resort, as well as 18 Meeting Room Boards using BlueFin display devices, instantly improving guest navigation and the ability to communicate key messaging. A sleek display near the elevator catches the attention of every passerby, while two screens in the meeting areas guide attendees with ease. At the front desk, the fourth display provides an inviting hub of hotel information, keeping guests informed without needing to ask for directions. Not only do these screens offer event details and directional signage, but they also bring a personal touch by displaying logos and photos for weddings and special occasions, delighting couples and their guests. Elevating Every Guest Interaction By introducing Uniguest's dynamic digital signage and meeting room signs, the resort has revolutionized how guests interact with their surroundings. Staff can now update content effortlessly through a simple content management system, ensuring that each event, from a large corporate gathering to an intimate wedding, feels custom-tailored. The displays have become essential in reducing front desk queries, allowing guests to independently find the information they need, which in turn gives the staff more time to focus on delivering exceptional service. Uniguest's technology has empowered our team to engage guests in a more effective and thoughtful manner. By providing timely and relevant information, we've been able to enhance the guest experience while ensuring our operations remain smooth and unobtrusive. This partnership has been a key factor in elevating our service delivery. What truly sets the Uniguest technology apart is the ability to create personalized experiences for each guest group. Whether it's showcasing a bride and groom's wedding photos or incorporating a company's logo into the event signage, the resort has embraced this feature to add a unique, meaningful touch to every event. Guests are thrilled by the thoughtful integration, which makes their time at the resort even more memorable. David Smiley, General Manager Newport Harbor Island Resort has also deployed Uniguest's Secure Workstation solution, giving guests access to web browsing and useful applications, further enhancing their technology offering. David summarised, Uniguest has been a great partner for our resort, the project management team are proactive and engaged in our journey, the support team has been responsive, and they have delivered on their promises time and again. We feel this is a partnership that benefits our property and our guests and are delighted with the results. To see Uniguest's Hotel Hub in action, visit the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis (USA) from June 16–19, where Uniguest will be exhibiting on Booth 5011. For more information about Uniguest's Hotel Hub, visit: About Uniguest Uniguest is a global leader in providing connected technology solutions to enable those in hospitality, senior living, sports, stadiums, entertainment, healthcare, retail, education, government, corporate, and enterprise to engage with their audience. Uniguest is highly focused on creating deep client relationships as shown by its most recent NPS (Net Promoter Score) score of 81. Uniguest supplies turnkey technology solutions that include digital signage, IPTV, enterprise video and engagement apps, professional services, and 24/7/365 multi-lingual support. James Keen EVP, Marketing
