The State Attorney and the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife vs LIMBAMI MEENDE Georges and MEBIHI Daniel

Country
Territorial subdivision
Type of court
Seat of court
Bertoua
Court jurisdiction
Date of opinion
2014
Abstract

In June 2019, an elephant was reported killed in the North of the Dja Biosphere reserve in a village called Doumo-Pierre. Following this, the elements of the Divisional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife Haut Nyong, arrested the accused Mebihi Daniel, an infamous poacher specialized in Elephant and Great apes poaching. He was found in possession of a war arm and ammunitions, with an enormous stock of Elephant meat. During interrogation, the accused declared that a gendarme officer, the co-offender Limbami Meende gave him the war arm to kill elephants and bring the ivories. He confessed killing over 20 Elephants in the same zone. He was once convicted for this same offence and since his release from prison, he became good allies with the gendarme officer. The accused, Limbami was arrested but he denied the charges. It was on this basis that the accused were transmitted before the state attorney for prosecution.

Language of document
French
Reference number
No. 017/2014
Charges
Illegal detention of war arms and ammunitions, illegal killing of totally protected animal species (Elephants) & complicity.
Money value
Unknown
Transnational
No
Decision
The accused were found guilty of illegal detention of war arms and ammunitions, illegal killing of totally protected animal species (Elephants) & complicity and were sentenced to three million (3.000.000) XAF and Limbami Meende five hundred (500.000) XAF respectively for fines, to both pay 286.500 XAF for costs, and two million (2.000.000) XAF for civil damages.
Appealed
No
Legislation cited
Penal Code, secs. 74, 97, 237
Law No. 94-01 of 20th January 1994 to lay down forestry, fisheries and wildlife regulations, secs. 87, 155, 158