by Rocheford T. Gardiner
BOPOLU, GBARPOLU COUNTY – A magisterial court in Gbarpolu County has reached a final judgment in the case involving the illegal killing of an elephant in Sando Village, Bana Clan. While the legal proceedings have concluded, the National Wildlife Crime Taskforce has voiced significant disappointment over what they perceive as a lenient penalty for the crime.
The case stems from an incident on December 30, 2025, when an elephant was killed by a group of individuals in District No. 1. Following an investigation by the National Wildlife Crime Investigative Team, seven defendants were identified and subsequently arraigned on January 20, 2026.
According to a final report from the Taskforce, all seven defendants entered a plea of guilty during their arraignment. During the sentencing hearing on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, defense counsel “prayed the Court to temper mercy with justice,” citing the defendants’ willingness to confess as grounds for a considerate penalty.
The presiding judge ruled that the seven defendants are jointly fined US $500.00 (five hundred United States Dollars), or its Liberian Dollar equivalent. The court ordered that this fine be paid into the Judiciary’s account within 48 hours of the judgment. Additionally, the court ordered that the two tusks recovered from the elephant be turned over to the National Wildlife Crime Investigation Taskforce, to be further transferred to the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) for final disposition.
While the legal process has been finalized, the enforcement team remains critical of the outcome. In an official memorandum to Edward Y.N.W. Appleton, Manager of the Law Enforcement Department at the FDA, Team Leader Cary G. Karzon (signing on behalf of Comm. Walter B. Wray II) stated clearly that the Taskforce “was not pleased with the penalty imposed.”
Mr. Appleton said that the Wildlife Crime Task Force which is an Inter Agency Task Force comprising of LNP, EPA, MOJ, LRA customs, Trans Organize Crime Unit and others will definitely file an official complaint to the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary.
The Wildlife Crime Task Force was established in 2019 to combat illegal wildlife Crime / trafficking.
Despite their dissatisfaction, the team acknowledged they were powerless to change the court’s ruling.
This ruling highlights ongoing tensions between wildlife conservation enforcement and the judicial system regarding the severity of punishments for poaching in Liberia’s protected regions.