By: Henry B. Gboluma, Jr. | Gbarpolu Correspondent
Bopolu City, Gbarpolu County |January 26, 2026| In a landmark ruling, the Bopolu City Magisterial Court, January 27, 2026, fined eight defendants jointly for the illegal killing of a protected elephant in Sando Village, Gbarpolu County.
Presiding Judge His Honor J. Mulbah Harris ordered the defendants to pay a total fine of USD 500 into the Judiciary Bank Account within 48 hours.
The court also mandated that the defendants remain in detention until the payment is completed.
The eight defendants, who admitted their roles in the crime, include:
Jonathon C. Francis, main suspect and owner of the farm, Sekou Kanneh, and Mamadee Cetra, town owner of the village.
The other hunters are Cyrus Plaker, Eric Kopolo, Joseph Kollie, Francis Kortu, and Mamadee Kanneh.
According to court documents, the elephant’s two ivory tusks were recovered and subsequently handed over to the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) through Regional Forester Kollie Bonner, who is named in the proceedings.
The defendants reportedly confirmed the killing and the illicit possession of the protected wildlife.
The ruling characterizes the case as a precedent intended to deter illegal hunting and the killing of protected wildlife in the region.
The court emphasized that violations fall under the National Forest Reform Law of 2006, including Chapter 6, Section 6.3.2(a).
National Wildlife and Protected Areas Management Law, including Chapter 9, Section 9.12(b)(I) and (d)(I), and Chapter 11, Section 11.2(c).
Meanwhile, Regional Forester Kollie Bonner has acknowledged the role of the Court recovered ivory and supporting the enforcement of wildlife protection laws.
The defendants and witnesses in this case have acknowledged the killing of the elephant, and the court’s decision underscores the seriousness of wildlife crimes in Liberia, highlighting the penalties and enforcement mechanisms designed to protect endangered species.
This story should serve as a strong deterrent to hunters and others who contemplate unlawful exploitation of protected wildlife in the region.
