Figuil Council Trial: Sentencing fixed for June 22

The defence counsel for Haman Amos made his final submission at the Special Criminal Court on June 10, 2015.

The trial of Haman Amos, the former treasurer of Figuil Council in the North Region at the Yaounde Special Criminal Court, SCC, on charges of embezzling FCFA 59 million, is gradually drawing to a close as sentencing is expected on June 22, 2015.

Hearing on Wednesday, June 10, 2015, saw the counsel for the accused, Barrister Elie Magloire Nkoa make his final plea in defence of his client before judgement day.

Barrister argued that his client was not guilty, citing as evidence Law No. 74/18 of December 5, 1974, Article 4 of Decree 94/232 of December 5, 1994, Article 150 of Law No. 74/23 of December 5, 1974, amongst others.

According to Magloire Nkoa, there were several irregularities in the joint audit mission that blamed Haman Amos for shortfalls in Figuil Council’s finances. Similarly, he argued, the report of the financial expert appointed by the court to give an opinion on the matter came up with different amounts which were reportedly embezzled.

This, according to the counsel, threw doubt into the whole process. Moreover, the amount Haman allegedly embezzled has been used for construction work at the council, Barrister Nkoa pointed out.

The trial first came up for mentioning on December 30, 2014, but was quickly adjourned because new appointments and transfers had been made at SCC. A Treasury Controller, 59-year-old Haman Amos is father of 14 children. He is presently being detained at the Kondengui, Yaounde Maximum Security Prison.