On the 21 November 2012, the accused, Mendomo Cecile gave ammunitions to the co-offender Mbane Simon to poach elephants. He killed an elephant and stripped off its ivory tusks. On returning home, he was arrested by elements of the Wildlife and Forestry control post of Mintom, while looking to sell the ivories and discard the gun. Mendomo Cecile was arrested following Mbane’s arrest, and she admitted to giving a hunting gun and ammunitions to Mbane Simon for hunting which was seized by elements of the forestry and wildlife control post of Mintom upon his arrest. She further confessed keeping Mbane’s hunting gun, which he collects whenever he wants to go hunting. Mbane Simon denied the facts of illegal killing of an elephant and claimed he picked the ivories in the forest and was trying to sell them to get something to eat. After interrogation, the accused persons were transmitted before the State Attorney for prosecution.
The State Attorney and the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife vs MBANE Simon and MENDOMO Cecile
Country
Territorial subdivision
Court
Type of court
Seat of court
Djoum
Court jurisdiction
Date of opinion
2015
Abstract
Language of document
French
Reference number
No. 247/COR
Charges
Illegal killing of totally protected animal species (01 Elephant) & complicity.
Species
Money value
Unknown
Transnational
No
Decision
They were found guilty of the illegal killing of totally protected animal species (01 Elephant) & complicity. MBANE Simon was sentenced to two (2) years fixed imprisonment term and MENDOMO Cecile to one (1) year imprisonment term. They were both sentenced to pay 1.000.000 XAF each as fines, 72.000 XAF for costs & 2.000.000 XAF as damages to the State of Cameroon represented by the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife.
Appealed
No
Legislation cited
Penal Code, secs. 74, 97
Law No 94-01 of 20 January 1994 to lay down forestry, fisheries and wildlife regulations, sec. 158
Text and analysis