Chaos erupts in court after sentencing of 7 Chinese nationals

JOHANNESBURG - Chaos erupted at the Johannesburg High Court, moments after seven Chinese nationals were each sentenced on Wednesday.

They were each handed a 20-year prison sentence for human trafficking, kidnapping and forced labour.

The group was arrested in a Hawks-led operation that led to the rescue of 91 Malawians, including 37 children, who had been forced to work in a Johannesburg factory.

The court also ordered their company to pay a fine of R300,000.

It was after the sentencing that the drama unfolded.

The daughter of accused number six, Nancy Xiao, confronted reporters, claiming her mother and her co-accused were being framed.

She alleged a powerful kingpin is the real brain behind a kidnapping syndicate that smuggles illegal foreign nationals into South Africa.

“The real owner is right here in this country - they are lying. I tell you that big boss he has gun related background in this Chinese community in South Africa. He’s living in this country, in this town in Bruma.”

Police attempted to block her from speaking to journalists, but she pushed through, saying the real traffickers are still at large and that her family has been made a scapegoat.

Delivering his ruling earlier, Judge David Mhango said the State presented overwhelming evidence.

He praised the reliability of witnesses, the thoroughness of police investigations and the success of the Hawks’ operation.

For now, the seven remain in custody, each facing two decades behind bars.