Great Expectations At Yaounde Central Prison

After the release of Titus Edzoa and Michel Thierry Atangana on February 24, 2014, a commission is at work to identify other beneficiaries of the presidential decree.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 was a day with a difference at the Yaounde Central Prison in the Kondengui neighbourhood. After the release of Prof. Titus Edzoa and Michel Thierry Atangana in the night of Monday, February 24, 2014 from the penitentiary institution, inmates and their relatives have been speculating on which prisoner will be the next.

At 10:00 am, the Registrar of the Yaounde Central Prison, Médard Bomotoliga Koalang, could be seen entering the gates of the prison in haste. As he crossed the courtyard, heading for his office, warders were doing the habitual roll call of prisoners to be transported to the courts.

Justice Minister's Circular Letter Received

Receiving the team from Cameroon Tribune later in his office, Médard Bomotoliga explained that the awaited Circular Letter defining the implementation of the February 18, 2014 Presidential Decree commuting and remitting prison sentences, was received at 5:00 pm on Monday. In effect, following the terms of Circular Letter No. 004/17016/SG/DAPG of February 24, 2014 signed by the Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Laurent Esso, the Registrar immediately held a meeting of the Commission in charge of identifying beneficiaries.

As the commission made up of penitentiary officials set to work, its members first settled on the provisions of the Circular Letter that beneficiaries of the presidential decree ought to have been definitely sentenced and that their sentence was not subject to any opposition, appeal or judicial review. Furthermore, the Circular Letter also provides that where the commutation or remitting of sentences entails the liberation of a prisoner, the latter should be liberated immediately. Titus Edzoa and Michel Thierry Atangana met the criteria for immediate release and both were freed at about 8:00 pm.

Other Detainees Await Commission's Decision

The Commission is working hard to identify other possible beneficiaries of the February 18 presidential decree and other names will be published as the days go by. In making this assertion, Médard Bonotoliga was certain that some of the inmates will see their prison terms reduced while others could be released as well. "The Commission will look into other cases and verify, at the level of the Supreme Court, the files of those who have received final sentences and don't have cases pending before the courts," said Médard Bonotoliga.

At the main Central Prison in Kondengui which hosts over 4,200 detainees, the situation is much more complicated. "Considering the population, the commission will comb the files to see who has been definitely sentenced and possible beneficiaries," he said. It is only after such verification that several cases will be clarified to see if their appeals for judicial review have already received decisions from the Supreme Court.