Medzo Champolin is living at Biessie village. In may 2015, Medzo Champolin received Petob Marien coming from Boutazab village who was sent by his uncle Koubeleko Mathieu to propose to Medzo Champolin to carry big hunting. Petob Marien brought Medzo Champolin to Koubeleko. After having found an agreement, Medzo Champolin and Koubeleko Mathieu entered the forest with a PMAK war weapon where they killed one elephant, removed and sold the tusks. During their patrol, rangers caught Medzo Champolin who denounced Petob Marien while Koubeleko ran away. Petob Marien brought rangers where Medzo Champolin hid the weapon. Both were brought before the state prosecutor who charged them of killing and complicity of killing a totally protected animal, illegal possession of a war weapon and sent them to court for trial.
The Public Prosecutor's Office and the Sangha Departmental Directorate of Water and Forests vs Medzo Champolin, Petob Marien
Country
Territorial subdivision
Court
Type of court
Seat of court
Ouesso
Court jurisdiction
Date of opinion
2015
Abstract
Language of document
French
Reference number
No. 078/2015
Charges
Illegal possession of war weapon, killing and complicity of killing a totally protected specie (elephant)
Species
Transnational
No
Decision
Petob Marien was found guilty of illegal possession of one war weapon and complicity of killing of a totally protected animal (elephant); Medzo Champolin was found guilty of killing a totally protected animal (elephant).
Appealed
No
Penalty
Medzo Champolin and Petob Marien were sentenced to three years imprisonment, XAF 200,000 (two hundred thousand) as fines each and XAF 1,000,000 (one million) as damages and to pay court fees jointly; The Imprisonment in default of payment was fixed to its minimum.
Legislation cited
Law No 37-2008 of 28 November 2008 on wildlife and protected areas
Ordonnance N°62/24 du 16 Octobre 1962 fixant le régime des matériels de guerre, des armes et munitions