Country
Territorial subdivision
Type of court
Seat of court
Libreville
Court jurisdiction
Date of opinion
2020
Abstract
In August 2020 at Ogooué-Ivindo, a train coming from Libreville hit two elephants. Informed of the situation, agents of the Mimogho national park arrived at the scene and discovered that the animals were not having their tusks. They opened investigations that led to the arrest of MANGUI Françis who declared that he removed the tusks and hid them in the bush while waiting to find a buyer.
Language of document
French
Reference number
Decision No 037/2020-2021
Charges
Possession of ivory tusks.
Species
Transnational
No
Decision
The accused was found guilty of possession of ivory tusks. - Concerning the possession of ivory tusks: the accused admitted the facts (i.e. to have removed ivory tusks from elephants hit by a train and to have hidden them in the bush without any administrative authorization); - Concerning the civil claim: the amount of civil damages (XAF 20,000,000) claimed by ANPN appeared to be exaggerated.
Appealed
No
Penalty
The accused was sentenced each to 18 months imprisonment including 10 months suspended; The accused was sentenced to a fine of XAF 1,400,000 (one million four hundred thousand) including XAF 900,000 (nine hundred thousand) suspended; The accused was sentenced to pay XAF 1,000,000 (one million) as civil damages; The accused was sentenced to pay the costs; The court ordered the sealed products to be made available to the competent administration.
Legislation cited
Decree No 163/PR/MEF setting the conditions for the possession, transport and trade in wild animal species, trophies and hunting products