CI-NEWS

Policeman to appear in court for wildlife trafficking.

2019-08-20

No: 442

Policeman to appear in court for wildlife trafficking.

A police constable who was arrested last May for trafficking in wildlife products shall appear at the Ekonou Court of First Instance on August 27, 2019 to answer to charges brought against him. The Garoua-based policeman was arrested in Yaounde in connection with the killing and trafficking of wildlife products at the Bouba Ndjida national park. He was found at his hotel room in Odza, Yaounde with an ivory tusk, a leopard skin and 5 lion skulls.

This is the 4th hearing of the case that could not proceed on July 23, 2019 when the trial last took place because of the prison mutiny that occurred at the Kondengui prison in Yaounde and which stopped prison wardens from extracting him to court. The suspect is accused of unlawful possession of wildlife products, in contravention of the 1994 wildlife law that governs the sector.

Prior investigations report that he is suspected of carrying wildlife trafficking at his outpost at the Bouba Ndjida national park where he was stationed. He was in charge of security and the protection of wildlife at the Zone 12 hunting areas surrounding the park. He violently resisted being arrested and tried to give orders to the gendarmes who were handling his arrest. The arrest was carried out by the Centre Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife working in collaboration with the Odza Gendarmerie Brigade. A wildlife law enforcement support body known as LAGA provided technical support during the operation.

The Bouba Ndjida park came into prominence in 2012 when poachers from Sudan razed it with AK 47 rifles and rocket propelled grenades, killing hundreds of elephants over a period of a couple of months. They made away with their tusks. The world woke up to the grim reality and government responded with the stationing of the military in the park that is the most diversified in the country hosting several wildlife species including lions, elephants, giraffes, hippopotamuses, Lord Derby elands and several other iconic antelope species.

It should be noted that if found guilty, the policeman faces the possibility of seeing his punishment doubled because according to the law, anyone found in possession of parts of a protected wildlife species is liable to up to 3 years’ imprisonment and or a fine of up to 10 million FCFA and this shall be doubled if the defaulter is a law enforcement officer.

The arrest points to a difficult conservation problem in the country and asks fresh questions on how parks are to be rendered safe without the presence of the military and other law enforcement personnel who are simply not trained for such functions.

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Policeman to appear in court for wildlife trafficking.