John Z. David, who successively killed more than six elephants in his act to gain fame has been arrested and sentenced to one year imprisonment.
He was also fined LRD$530,000.00 or $2,500USD upon pleading guilty to the commission of the crime.
The culprit, a native of Kpowansanyea Town, Salayea District, Lofa County told the joint security team led by Forestry Development Authority (FDA) representatives and partners during a recent investigation, that as a part of an organized crime syndicate, he had killed many elephants in his drive to gain fame and become a possible replacement of his mentor who trains individuals in the highly illegal activity.
According to the perpetrator, “On the 14th of September 2019 I went to Ma-vortor to help with the road construction work.
David confessed: “On my way back to Camp Pewee on the same day I met with elephants on the road. I was able to kill one small one among them with my single barrel gun. After killing the elephant, I went to Camp Pewee where I spent the night.
The following day I went with some people to butcher the elephant”.
Before the Salayea Magisterial court, Mr. David was charged for hunting and killing of a protected species and possession of a firearm (section 6.3.2 & 17.9 of the penal law) of the Wildlife and Protected Area Management Law of Liberia.
In its ruling against John Z. David, the court stated “Wherefore and in view of the foregoing, defendant John Z. David is guilty of the crime – hunting and killing of a protected species and possession of a firearm. Therefore he is hereby sentenced to an imprisonment of one year and will pay a fine of USD$2,500.00 or LRD$530,000.00 ”
According to the law forest elephants are an endangered species and are fully protected in Liberia. (Chapter 13 of the Wildlife Law of Liberia, Appendix I: List of Fully Protected Animals (a). “The hunting, capturing and destroying of animals listed in this Appendix without a valid permit, license or certificate issued by the Authority is an offense under the provisions of this Act”.
On this multipurpose mission, the joint team of investigators also confiscated two live chimpanzees in Zorzor City, Lofa County from Korpo Kollie and Lorpu Lormount.
The two suspects were taken to the Liberia National Police, later charged and sent to the Zorzor Magisterial Court for prosecution consistent with Section 6.3.2 Protected Species Controls (a) Except as provided in this Section State: “No Person shall hunt, kill, capture, injure, harass, or trade any protected species, live or dead, or any part thereof, identified in the list established and maintained by the Authority under Subsection 6.3.(b)(2) of this Law” and Section 11.2 Specific Offences and Penalties (g) states: “Possession of live animal without permit or license and the fine is US $100 to $150 or three months imprisonment.”
Both perpetrators were convicted, with Kollie charged a USD$100.00 fine and Lormount pending contempt of court unless the fine is paid or prison sentence is served.
This mission stemmed from an earlier trip led by the Society for Conservation of Nature of Liberia, during which reports of illegal hunting of elephants, commercial bushmeat activities and the trafficking of live chimpanzees were revealed.
The mission, conducted by FDA, Liberia National Police, Trans National Crime Unit and the Ministry of Justice was organized and supported by Flora & Fauna International, Wild Chimpanzee Foundation, and Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue & Protection.
