Nine defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to 14 years on Friday in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, in the country's largest case involving the illegal purchase, transport and sale of macaque monkeys. Macaques are an endangered species under state protection.

The Xi'an Municipal Intermediate People's Court also fined the defendants between 20,000 and 200,000 yuan (US$2,400 to US$24,000). The Beijing Xie'er Company was fined 3 million yuan (US$360,000) for its involvement in the case.

In November 2002, Shaanxi forestry police arrested Tian Lichao on suspicion of illegally purchasing two macaques. Subsequent investigation revealed a complete network for the purchase, transport and sale of the rare monkeys, leading to the arrests of the nine defendants.

The trial was held on July 26 this year.

Jia Ruisheng, one of the defendants and the general manager of Beijing Xie'er, said his company bought the macaques for breeding purposes.

Defendant Jia Wenfei, an official at the Anhui Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce, claimed ignorance of the law and regulations concerning the transportation of macaques.

From November 2001 to May 2002, the company and individuals bought and sold more than 3,000 macaques.

(China Daily August 16, 2004)