On the 8 April 2015, the Chief of the Forestry and Wildlife control post of Djoum received a reliable phone call that a certain man in possession of 20 elephant ivories is destined to traffic these ivories at a hotel Inn called “Auberge Jeannette”, room 104 in Djoum. Based on this information, a control team was set up destined for the said inn. The said team proceeded to arrest the accused Essono Ebio flagrante delicto with 20 ivory tusks. During interrogations, the accused denied poaching the elephants claiming that he bought the said ivories from Pygmies at 95.000XAF car. He however accepted the other charges. He admitted that in November 2012, two pygmies visited him proposing to sell ivories. Later on, he met a certain Minyono who proposed looking for a buyer for the ivories. Eventually, Minyono informed him that he had buyer and they agreed to meet at the said hotel inn. While waiting for the buyer, MINYONO reported him to the chief of Post leading to his arrest. At the close of interrogations, he was transmitted before the State Attorney, together with the seized items as exhibits for prosecution.
The State Attorney and the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife vs ESSONO EBIO Martin
Country
Territorial subdivision
Court
Type of court
Seat of court
Djoum
Court jurisdiction
Date of opinion
2013
Abstract
Language of document
French
Reference number
No.71/COR
Charges
Illegal detention and circulation of trophies of totally protected animal species and illegal killing of totally protected animal species.
Species
Transnational
No
Decision
The accused was found guilty of the illegal detention and circulation of trophies of totally protected animal species and not guilty of illegal killing of totally protected animal species. He was sentenced to two (2) months fixed term imprisonment, to pay 100.000 XAF for fines, 37.000 XAF for costs and 600.000 XAF as civil damages to the state of Cameroon through the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife.
Appealed
No
Penalty
The accused was sentenced to two (2) months fixed term imprisonment, to pay 100.000 XAF for fines, 37.000 XAF for costs and 600.000 XAF as civil damages to the state of Cameroon through the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife.
Legislation cited
Law No. 94-01 of 20th January 1994 to lay down forestry, fisheries and wildlife regulations, secs. 78(2), 98(1), 101, 158