WILDLEX

The appellant was convicted of 22 offences of unlawfully importing or dealing with animals and birds of endangered species. The appellant was concerned in importing 23 birds of prey in two suit cases.

On 28 November 2000 a consignment arrived at Heathrow from the Cameroons on a Swissair flight via Zurich. The consignor was Mrs Monie and the consignee and importer the appellant. The consignment contained for the most part frozen cassava leaves and indeed that was how the accompanying documents described it.

Accused persons were found guilty of unlawful possession of 2 horns in contravention of the Game Act. The Act prescribes that a person found guilty of the offence must either replace the game or compensate the full value of the property to the owner or government in cases where the owner cannot be established.