Case of embezzlement in Minfi, verdict to be given on 18 Sept.

The defence for the case of the embezzlement of over 798 million was closed on Thursday. The accused appeared for the opening of the trial at the special criminal court (CHT).

The next hearing will come to put an end to this affair opened with six accused and cordoned off with 13. All prosecuted by the public prosecutor and the Ministry of Finances (Minfi) for introducing fictitious matricules in the files of the Minfi from 2007 to 2010. Attributing undue salaries to unidentified people and benefiting from this money at the expense of the State of more than 798 million.

According to judicial sources, the accused were at the time of the facts, officials at the Ministry of defence (Mindef) in micro-finance institutions and the direction of the balance at Minfi. All started when 27 unidentified matricules were found among staff of Mindef.

Reason why, Christian Emvolo Emvolo, principal master in the Navy, Gilles Théodore Epopa, Commander and Jean Guillaume Ebogo Messi, Captain of corvette in service at the staff office and the balance at OHCHR joint on that date, are amongst the defendants.

To Minfi, Solange Ndo Baker Emini, head of the balance service and Jean Sime, then head of bureau of the seizure of pensions in the same direction, also expect their verdicts.

On behalf of the establishments of microfinance who received these contentious transfers, Ndzomo Nguina Ngobo, Executive Director of Fiffa, Mfouapon Alassa, head of Fiffa agency at Kye-Ossi, Georges Landry Nyatte, responsible for customer services, Jean Bernard Ndongo Onana, former head of Agency, Arlette Oyana Oyono, cashier and Njifendjou Adamou, new Chief of the Agency were also charged.

Initially, only Fiffa officials were before the court. Following the additional information requested by Me Christian Engo, Minfi lawyer, these three frameworks under Mindef, two from Minfi and microfinance institutions were arrested in July 2013.

At this date, it explained that micro-finance institutions were the only places of receipt of these contentious transfers. In previous hearings, the civil party was found guilty.