The State Attorney and the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife vs. MOLNGA ANOEL

Country
Territorial subdivision
Type of court
Seat of court
Abong Mbang
Court jurisdiction
Date of opinion
2019
Abstract

On the 3 October 2015, METSIE Serge Pascal made a complaint to the commander of the Messok gendarmerie brigade that his younger brother NGOUROUBAN Jean Brice died during a hunting trip in the Dja Biosphere reserve and he suspects a certain NDONDA Achille and NKOLO Jean to be responsible. An investigation was opened and AZONGA Sandrine, the concubine of the deceased revealed that NKOLO Jean gave a gun to MOLINGA Anoel and NDONGA Achille to accompany him to hunt elephants. Few days later, curiously, MOLINGA Anoel returned from the hunt and informed Nkolo jean that the gun caused the death of NGOUROUBAN Jean Brice without giving him ample information. Ndonda Achille further elaborated that after killing two elephants, Brice charged towards the third elephant. That this elephant wounded him in the abdomen grievously leading to his death. Given the long distance to the village, they buried him in the forest. During interrogations, the accused Molinga refused the charges stating that the elephant killed Brice and not him. After this, he sought refuge in Yaoundé in order to escape prosecution. On his return from Yaoundé, he was arrested and transmitted to the State Attorney for prosecution.

Language of document
French
Reference number
No. 256/COR of 30 April 2019
Charges
Involuntary homicide and killing of class A totally protected animal species.
Transnational
No
Decision
The accused MOLINGA ANOEL was found guilty of involuntary homicide, and of killing of class A totally protected animal species.
Appealed
No
Penalty
He was sentenced to fifteen (15) months fixed imprisonment term, to pay 100,000 XAF for fines, and 71,446 XAF for costs.
Legislation cited
Law No.94/01 of 20/01/1994 to lay down forestry, wildlife and fisheries regulations