WILDLEX

The 6 appellants were convicted, in a magistate court, of unlawful possession of and dealing in elephant ivory and skin and leopard skin in contravention of the Wildlife and National Parks 28 of 1992.

This a criminal appeal against the decision of the magistrate court in terms of which the appellant was convicted of contravening s 17(2) of the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act 1992 (No. 28 of 1992) and was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment.

On the 1st August 2011, the Chief of the Border Post of the National Security of Djoum received reliable information that a Mercedes truck matriculated CE 027-CL contains wildlife products specifically elephant ivories. A control team was set up and the said truck was seized and taken to the unit for a detailed search.

On the 09 December 2010 at ”Marché de Fleurs” in Douala, a team from the Littoral Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife arrested NKOUTENGAM ABOUBAKAR in possession of a Leopard skin which he was selling. During interrogations, he admitted to having been found in illegal possession of a Leopard skin which he was about to sell.

In August 2013, Dissaka Daringue accompanied by Bakoundou Flisien and other people took the boat at Hydro-Congo for a hunting expedition. At Barenze port, they abandoned the boat to continue on foot and reach the indicated point where they killed eight elephants collecting a total of 16 ivory tusks.

In July 2016, Nji Fonbdah Gédéon went to the locality of Yangadou, Cabosse where he bought leopard skins and pangolin scales. On his return to Souanke, he associated himself with Gadjere Ibrahim who assisted in buying more leopard skins. That’s how both were arrested and brought before the state prosecutor.

In 2017, Bipago Germain a Cameroonian used to go to the forest with one known as Belgino to hunt using wire snare traps. One day while visiting his traps he found one leopard captured and dead. With his accomplice Belgiano, they consumed the leopard meat and dried the skin.

In November 2017, Kiack Paterne went to the forest to verify his traps. He discovered that one young leopard was caught in one trap and killed him with a piece of wood. He contacted Mebele Celestin Eloge to skin the animal and then contacted Buiwn Michaëlto sell the skin.

Wiya Eric and one known as Gainze are friends who went to do hunting with traps in the forest around Miélékouka village. While Wiya Eric was at the forest camp, Gainze decided to hunt overnight and check the traps. He discovered that one leopard was trapped and killed the animal.

In order to obtain illegal income, Weitai W. carried 15 tiger teeth, 4 tiger paws, 4 leopard teeth and 4 pieces of rhino horns on June 25, 2015, led by Yuejing P. illegally entering by boat from Vietnam's old street Zhongyuehe River to China's Hekou County "Yitiaoban" (place name), want to sell above products to others.