On the 12 December 2011, the accused persons MUHAMADU SANI BELLO, SULE NJEBA, GHOSHYI PIUS YONDO and CHIN BASILE LEMGHA were arrested flagrante delicto in the locality of Banana in the Mambele-Moloundou sector during a raid carried out by elements of the Lobéké National Park. During this raid, they intercepted a truck matriculated CE-209-CX transporting cocoa driven by one of the accused persons CHIN BASILE LEMGHA and on board were SULE NJEBA, GHOSHYI PIUS YONDO and NAKPANDA Laure Dinaly. Searching the truck led to the discovery of three (03) bags containing forty-four (44) ivories and two (02) elephant tails. During interrogation, the driver declared he did not know of the content of the bags and named MUHAMADU SANI BELLO as the owner of the bags. The latter confessed to owning them, specifying that he obtained them from a Congolese friend whose name he did not give. However, all accused persons confessed to the facts and pleaded guilty. At the close of interrogations, the accused persons were transmitted before the State Attorney for prosecution.
The State Attorney and the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife vs. MUHAMADU SANI BELLO, SULE NJEBA, GHOSHYI PIUS YONDO and CHIN BASILE LEMGHA
Country
Territorial subdivision
Court
Type of court
Seat of court
Yokadouma
Court jurisdiction
Date of opinion
2012
Abstract
Language of document
French
Reference number
No. 016/COR of 20 January 2012
Charges
Illegal killing of totally protected class A animal species, and illegal detention and circulation of elephant trophies.
Species
Transnational
No
Decision
The accused persons were convicted for the following charges; MUHAMADU SANI BELLO was found guilty for the illegal killing of a totally protected class A animal species. SULE NJEBA, GHOSHYI PIUS YONDO and CHIN BASILE LEMGHA were found guilty for illegal detention and circulation of elephant trophies.
Appealed
No
Penalty
The accused MUHAMADU SANI BELLO was sentenced to one (01) month imprisonment terms and to pay 200,000 XAF for fines. CHIN BASILE LEMGHA was sentenced to one (01) month imprisonment and to pay 100,000XAF for fines. SULE NJEBA and GHOSHYI PIUS YONDO were both sentenced to one (01) month imprisonment and to pay 50,000 XAF for fines each. All accused persons were sentenced to pay 207,600 XAF for costs and to pay civil damages of 3,860,000 XAF to the state of Cameroon through the Ministry of forestry and wildlife.
Legislation cited
law No.94/01 of 20/01/1994 to lay down forestry, wildlife and fisheries regulations