In January 2018, Mbaba Maxime was visited at his home by Kassa Ali and Aba Madi Maxime, who noticed two ivory tusks in his living room that were used as ornaments. Aba Madi Baba later on informed Mbaba that he had found a buyer named Koffi who was interested in his ivory tusks. Koffi, Kassa and Aba Madi asked Mbaba to join them at PK12 for the transaction. Mbaba put the tusks inside a bag of rice and went to the place of the transaction where Koffi asked them to go to a hotel to finalize the transaction and proposed to buy one kg at XAF 125,000 for a total weight of 11.5 kg. As soon as they entered the hotel than they were apprehended by the officers of the judicial police and NGO Conservation Justice. Mbaba declared that his family inherited the ivory since 1978.
Country
Territorial subdivision
Type of court
Seat of court
Libreville
Court jurisdiction
Date of opinion
2019
Abstract
Language of document
French
Reference number
Decison No 206/2018-2019
Charges
Possession, transport and trade in trophies.
Species
Transnational
No
Decision
KASSA Ali and MADI BABA were found not guilty of possession of ivory tusks and guilty of complicity of transport of ivory tusks; MBABA Maxime was found guilty of possession and transport of ivory tusks; All the three accused were found guilty of trade in ivory tusks.
Appealed
No
Penalty
Mbaba Maxime was sentenced to 3 months imprisonment suspended and to a fine of XAF 250,000 (two hundred fifty thousand); Kassi Ali and Aba Madi Baba were sentenced to 3 months firm imprisonment and to a fine of XAF 200,000 (two hundred thousand) The accused were sentenced to jointly pay the sum of XAF 2,000,000 (two millions) as damages and interest; The accused were sentenced to pay the costs.
Legislation cited
Decree No 163/PR/MEF setting the conditions for the transport, keeping and marketing of protected species