Batemans Bay Court: Li Ling Bi sentenced for involvement in alleged Blacklip Abalone trafficking

A woman who assisted in trafficking close to 30,000 highly prized species of Abalone illegally as part of an alleged criminal syndicate has been sentenced after being netted by cops and her crimes dragged up from the deep in court.

Li Ling Bi leaving court. Pictures: Tom McGann

A woman who assisted in trafficking close to 30,000 highly prized species of Abalone illegally as part of an alleged criminal syndicate has been sentenced after being netted by cops and her crimes dragged up from the deep in court.

Li Ling Bi, 62, appeared in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday after pleading guilty to participating in a criminal group and trafficking an indictable species of fish.

Bi previously denied the offending, but recently changed her plea after reaching a deal with the prosecution.

The court heard Bi was one of eight allegedly involved in the operation, which police say saw 28,701 Blacklip Abalone – the mollusc which comes at a premium – trafficked around Penshurst, Batemans Bay, Mogo, Green Cape, Tura Beach, Merimbula and Eden between September 2023 and February 2024.

The court heard her now ex-partner Keith Nye, 67, as well as Brent Wellington, 24, Richard Schofield, 56, Nathan Carriage, 23, Henry Carriage, 45, Denzel Carriage, 21, and Kane Bollard, 23, were also allegedly involved in the operation, but have each pleaded not guilty to participating in a criminal group and multiple counts of trafficking an indictable species of fish.

Li Ling Bi’s ex-partner, Keith Nye, was allegedly involved. Picture: Tom McGann

They are scheduled for hearing at a later date.

During Bi’s sentencing before Magistrate Doug Dick, the court heard her involvement was exclusively trafficking some of the Blacklip Abalone.

Nearly 30,000 Blacklip Abalone were trafficked. Picture: Generic, file

“She’s not involved in relation to the collection of the Abalone and she is not involved in relation to telling people how to transport it,” Bi’s solicitor, Kent Park said.

Court documents state Bi trafficked 2612 units of the shellfish species as part of the alleged operation.

More than 25,000 Blacklip Abalone were allegedly trafficked along the South Coast and more than 2000 in outer Sydney.

NSW Police commenced an investigation into the alleged operation, with arrests being laid between late 2023 and early 2024.

Li Ling Bi was sentenced on Monday. Picture: Tom McGann

Wellington, Schofield, Nye, the three Carriages, Bollard and Bi were all granted bail shortly after their arrests.

In sentencing, Mr Park noted Bi did not have a criminal record and said she joined due to her then partner’s alleged involvement.

“The relationship has ended, you will not see Ms Bi before this court again,” he said.

However, prosecutor John Marsh said Bi displayed a “lack of remorse”.

“The maximum punishment for a fisheries offence is 10 years, which shows how seriously parliament takes these kinds of offences,” he said.

“The real issue in this matter is the quantity, with the indictable quantity being 50 Abalone.

“She has pleaded guilty to trafficking 52 times the indictable amount.”

Mr Dick noted the amount of Blacklip Abalone trafficked by Bi, saying the 2612 units could not be ignored.

“I have regard to your age and your prior good character, the sentencing assessment report, and the references attest to your good character, but it is very important the court not trivialise these matters,” he said.

“It is my job today to send a clear and unmistakeable message.”

Bi was convicted, sentenced to a 12 month intensive correction order and ordered to complete 300 hours of community service.

“Remember, this is a court order of jail in the community,” Mr Dick said.

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