On the breaking night of 12 December 2017 the conservation service of Dja Biosphere reserve received reliable information on huge quantities of ivories bound for the Djoum-Oveng highway. The service dispatched a team for the said highway and alerted all wildlife control posts.The team successfully located the vehicle in the Minko’o village. In the boot of the car was found 216 Ivory tusks, 16 elephant tails and a large scale hunting gun and an official of the Army, a Colonel was identified as the owner of the car. He declined ownership of the said trophies and indicated the owner, Mah Mvomo. The colonel further identified another accomplice Adamou Pekassa who was lured into the interrogation scene. They both confessed to owning the loot Pekassa attempted bribing the Dja conservation team proposing 5, 8 and 11 million respectively. The team declined the offer, established their offence reports and transmitted the case before the court for prosecution.
The State Attorney and the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife vs MAH MVOMO Jean Paul & PEKASSA PEPOUERE ADAMOU
Country
Territorial subdivision
Court
Type of court
Seat of court
Djoum
Court jurisdiction
Date of opinion
2018
Abstract
Language of document
French
Reference number
No. 130/COR
Charges
Illegal hunting without a permit, poaching totally protected animal species, illegal detention and circulation of trophies of totally protected species (ivory tusks and elephant tails), and illegal detention and possession of a hunting gun.
Species
Transnational
No
Decision
They were found guilty of illegal hunting without permit, poaching totally protected animal species, illegal detention and circulation of trophies of totally protected animal species, and illegal detention of a hunting gun and were sentenced to six (06) months fixed term imprisonment each, 3.562.870 XAF for fines and costs, and to pay 66.457.500 XAF as damages to the State of Cameroon represented by the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife.
Appealed
Yes
Legislation cited
Penal Code, sec. 74, sec. 97, sec. 237
Law No 94-01 of 20th January 1994 to lay down forestry, fisheries and wildlife regulations, sec.78, sec. 97, sec. 98, sec. 101, sec. 155, sec.158