Absence of police witnesses stalls trial of journalists

The trial on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at the Yaounde Military Tribunal of three journalists and two other people accused of concealing information and participating in activities detrimental to State security, failed to take off in earnest.

The prosecution blamed this on the apparent refusal of police prosecution witnesses to turn up after several attempts, in spite of the go-ahead given by the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele.

Ndeutchoua Tongue Rodrigue, formerly of ‘Le Messager’ newspaper and now with Canal 2 International Television, Ebole Bola Félix Cyriaque of ‘Mutations’ daily newspaper and Dr Baba Wame, a lecturer with the Advanced School of Mass Communication, ASMAC, Yaounde, are accused of “non-denunciation” or concealing dangerous information concerning State security.

Abdoulaye Harissou, a Maroua-based Notary Public and Aboubakary Sidikki, a political leader and businessman based in Douala, are accused of having foreknowledge of armed attacks on the East Region by a group of Chadian, Central African Republic and Sudanese rebels.

They are also charged with assassination, illegal possession and use of a firearm, possession of ammunitions, hostility against the State, revolution and outrage against the Head of State.

Major Ndzie Pierrot Narcisse, the prosecuting magistrate, told the court that as a result of his repeated failed attempts to get the police witnesses to appear, the trial should go ahead with their statements accepted as exhibit.

To this, Barristers Jacques Mbuny, Pierre Robert Foju, Edzengte Modo and others strongly disagreed, questioning how police officers could discountenance the instruction of their commander by refusing to appear in court.

The defence counsel took turns to point out that the trial proper could not go ahead without the prosecution stating its case in detail by presenting the charges against each accused – though they had earlier pleaded guilty.

The defence similarly argued that after Abdoulaye Harissou and Aboubakary Sidikki had spent almost two years in prison custody, and all accused charged since seven months, it was unthinkable for the prosecution to now ask for adjournment because it was still putting its case together.

At the end, the lead judge, Iroume, ruled that the matter be adjourned to August 12, 2016, for the prosecution to present its witnesses.