FCFA 288m lost by Camair-Co, fraudsters jailed

On October 21, TCS sentenced 10 people who fraudulently obtained tickets to travel from the airline website.

In 2011, while the airline Camair-co launched its activities, a band of young boys whose ages vary between 28 and 35 years succeeded in tampering with the computer system of the airline and purchased online tickets. According to the indictment, 700 passengers bought tickets improperly issued by the Camair-Co website.

However, a total of 288 million FCfa of tickets was lost by the airline within one year. "This is why Camair - Co has not taken off for three years. It will never take off. The star of Cameroon will never shine. Today, we cannot re-open the site (it was closed in January 2012)", noted the lawyer of Camair-Co, Me Joseph Constantine Balla.

Ten people involved in this fraud were located and arrested and sent on trial in the special criminal court, October 21, these individuals have been found guilty of embezzlement of public funds. They include; Bertrand Formishi, de Zambo Bengono and de Dia Doro Samba, a Senegalese, all three sentenced to life imprisonment. As for Yannick Mbarga, Blaise Massango, Patrick Elong Sipa, William Mbia Mindoum, and Bertrand Lamsi Afanji, they were sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Diverting money from Camair-Co is a crime against Cameroonians. These young people have threatened the survival of this Crown Corporation and the social cohesion of our country.