{"id":7144,"date":"2026-04-05T19:40:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T19:40:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.thedaylight.org\/wp68\/?p=7144"},"modified":"2026-04-05T19:40:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T19:40:44","slug":"court-fines-28-for-illegal-mining-in-sapo-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stage.thedaylight.org\/wp68\/2026\/04\/05\/court-fines-28-for-illegal-mining-in-sapo-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Court Fines 28 for Illegal Mining in Sapo Park"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Top: An illegal mine in the Sapo National Park. File picture\/Forestry Development Authority<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By Myer Saydi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GREENVILLE \u2013 A court in Sinoe County has fined<\/a> 28 suspects and ordered them to do community service for illegal mining in the Sapo National Park.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Greenville Magisterial Court fined the men US$1,300. It also ruled that they cut grass at the Presidential Palace in Greenville for seven working days. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The suspects had pleaded guilty to theft of property and criminal trespass following their arrest in February by park rangers. \u00a0They escaped imprisonment because prosecutors did not prove they had any prior convictions for the crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I am happy for my clients despite government fines and community services because they are not going to jail,\u201d said \u00a0Franklin Myers, the convicts\u2019 lawyer. \u201cThe court ruling is not based on public sentiment but on what the law says. So, I am happy for them.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Smith, Chief Warden of the Sapo National Park, said the ruling would serve as a deterrent to illicit occupants. Smith added that Liberia\u2019s protected areas are critical to biodiversity conservation. He urged citizens to respect conservation laws and support sustainable practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joint security forces arrested the men in February 2026 during an enforcement operation, court documents show. Security forces seized 4.2 grams of gold, a half-filled 25-kilogram bag of rice, six gallons of gasoline and eight pieces of carpet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities reported that the group was actively involved in unauthorized mining, a direct violation of Liberia\u2019s forestry, mining, environmental and wildlife laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ruling comes amid ongoing efforts<\/a> to curb environmental degradation inside Liberia\u2019s largest park. To date, thousands of illicit occupants have been removed from the 697-square-mile park, one of the world\u2019s biodiversity hotspots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This story is a production of the Community of Forest and Environmental Journalists of Liberia (CoFEJ).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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