Abah Abah accused of embezzling FCFA 1.8 billion

The former Director of Taxes and Minister of Finance and the Economy, Polycarpe Abah Abah, has again appeared before the Yaounde-based Special Criminal Court, SCC.

Appearing on Wednesday, February 18, 2015, the former State official who is already serving at the Yaounde Secondary Prison for attempted jail break and embezzlement of public funds, was led by one of his counsel, Barrister Antoine Marcel Mong.

This time around, Abah Abah is accused by Batock Dikanda Daniel and a former journalist, now parliamentarian, William Mandio and the State of Cameroon, of fraudulently obtaining landed property belonging to a cooperative and the State of Cameroon worth FCFA 1.8 billion.

The crime was allegedly committed between 1998 and 2005 when Polycarpe Abah Abah was Director of Taxes.

Handling the matter was Justice Nyoh Matthias as president, joined by Justices Tagiyin and Adebada; with Justice Taguim as Advocate General.

Abah Abah pleaded not guilty of the charge, and the matter was adjourned to March 9, 2015, for the presentation of prosecution witnesses and permission to be given to concerned people in detention to appear in court.

Earlier, the former Director of Taxes, through his counsel, submitted a list of 12 defence witnesses, while Barrister Nchankou Njindam represented the civil claimant.