25 cashiers in court for embezzlement

25 cashiers from different treasury organizations have been accused of allegedly embezzling funds between 2012 and 2013.

The accused persons who were assistant cashiers, cashiers, contract workers and assistant controllers of treasury at their respect divisional and sub-divisional treasuries were charged with embezzling state funds through double-payment of pay vouchers and of fabricating and paying fake pay vouchers.

According to the report of the investigating magistrate, Justice Annie Noelle Bahounou Batende who referred the matter to the special criminal court, the accused persons created a network through which they perpetrated their criminal activity.

The judge arrived at this conclusion when she noticed that the crimes were committed by the same persons, within the same period. A total of 746.643.151 FCFA (approx. 750 million FCFA) was jointly and severally siphoned by the 25 accused persons.

The case was reported to the judicial police by the Paymaster (TPG) of Yaoundé, Essono Francis Lin Mathieu after he noticed that some doubtful payments had been made within his jurisdiction. The TPG’s attention was drawn to the fraud by a team of controllers who audited the treasury sometime in November 2013.

The report of the audit indicted the cashiers were in the habit of effecting new payments for vouchers that had already been paid in the previous month(s). They were also found to have faked some vouchers which they also paid.

To enable them carry out the fraud, these cashiers withdrew from the archives vouchers which had already been paid. They modified the names and matriculation numbers on the pay vouchers and then infiltrated them among other vouchers that had to be paid.

At other times, the fraudsters simply fabricated fake vouchers with fake names and matriculation numbers, which they paid. After which members of the network would then share the booty among themselves.

When summoned at the TPG’s office, some of the culprits admitted having committed the crimes.

Though the matter has been in court since November 2013, it was only on June 10, 2015 that the accused persons first appeared before the judge of the special criminal court.

The 25 accused persons are charged jointly and severally with embezzlement of public funds, complicity and attempt to embezzle public funds including fabricating and using fake documents (faux et usages de faux).

They are said to have committed the crimes while they occupied their respective posts at different treasuries in Yaoundé notably the general treasury and the Ngoa-Ekele and Djoungolo treasuries.

Some 15 cashiers of the general treasury and other divisional and sub-divisional treasuries in Yaoundé are presently facing the judge of the special criminal court in Yaoundé on charges of embezzlement.

10 others whose files were sent to the court have escaped and arrests warrants have since been issued against them.

Out of the 15 accused persons who are appearing in court, six are under preventive detention at the Kondengui prison. A few were transferred to the Kongengui prison on January 21, 2014 and others on June 20, 2014.

The six persons in Kondengui include: Azegue Nadine, Lum Bernadette Mofor, Tsalla Ndzie Noah Meyebe Virginie, Awuh Salome Anguh, Amougui Mbede Lucie and Mbezele Mbatzogo Anastasie.

Nine others who are still moving freely but whose files are also in court include: Ebokolo Bile Mballa Christine, Baran Assiang Valentine Georgette, Djabbaram Mai, Ottou Mboe Christine Sandrine, Adjick Mirabelle, Bissong Manyo Etengeneng, Ekosso Ekwelle Giselle Nadege, Abeng Ntyama Jeanne-Marie and Ndzie Marie Rosine.

The 10 persons on the run include; Mekong Ngah Anastasie, Ngo Bikoko Sophie Chantal, Mefaing Fils Boyomo Sebastien, Bouebe Yves Bertrand, Kamwa Tadntse Clarisse, Meyo Nkotto Loise and Etogo Mbassi Ettienne Vicky.

They constitute the defendants in the case, putting the people of Cameroon and the Ministry of Finance (the civilly liable party) against 25 accused persons. The second hearing was expected to come up on July 8, 2015.

It was during this hearing that the civil party (MINFI) produced its witnesses, while the lawyers of the accused persons will also start defending them.

The accused persons and amounts embezzled

Azegue Nadine Fcfa 7 593 146

Lum Bernadette Mofor Fcfa 391 104 697

Tsalla Ndzie Virginie Fcfa 391 104 697

Ebokolo Bille Mballa Christine Fcfa 3 267 000

Awuh Salomé Anguh Fcfa 26 922 864

Ngo Bikoko Sophie Chantal Fcfa 16 412 340

Aboto Nnanga Sorelle Venessa Fcfa 9 952 338

Mekong Ngah Anastasie et

Mpito Blende Christiane Fcfa 70 660 275

Mefoung Fils Boyomo

Sébastien and Ndung Kollian Fcfa 746 037 685

Ottou Mboe Christine Sandrine Fcfa 305 466

Bouebe Yves Bertrand Fcfa 29 053 127

Kamwa Tadntse Clarisse Fcfa 7 068 449

Meyo Nkotto Loise Fcfa 41 648 455

Etogo Mbassi Etienne Vicky Fcfa 70 366 923

Abeng Ntyama Jeanne-Marie Fcfa 125 445

Ndzie marie Rosine Fcfa 7 547 670

Baran Assiang Valentine Fcfa 1 697 994

Bissong Manyo Etengeneng Fcfa 4 175 040

Ekosso Ekwelle Gisèle Fcfa 3 105 083

Djabbaram Mai Fcfa 19 428 728

Adjick Mirabelle Fcfa 11 634 766

Amougui Mbede Lucie Fcfa 7 086 806

Mbezele Mbatsogo Anastasie Fcfa 17 186 549