How Fotso’s life sentence came down at the SCC

The former General Manager of the defunct Cameroon Airlines, Camair, Yves Michel Fotso, has been slammed a life sentence. But that isn’t all – he’s still waiting for another verdict in different embezzlement case expected to be delivered soon. The embattled Fotso had pleaded to no avail for both cases to be tried as one.

A Yaounde Special Criminal Court, SCC, in delivering the verdict on Monday April 25, after almost deliberating on the case for two years, declared Fotso guilty of embezzling the sum of FCFA 32.4 Billion while he was Chief Executive Officer of the national airline carrier.

He was said to be guilty of embezzling FCFA 5, 848, 316, 370 and FCFA 26, 600, 000, 000, in a matter that involved two of the Company’s aircrafts.

Monday’s court session, which started at about 11 am, sat for just a little over 45 minutes and handed down the verdict.

Not only was the delivery of the verdict swift, it was done in the absence of the accused, who is said to be in very poor health and hospitalized at the Yaounde Central Hospital. Fotso’s defence team of five lawyers was also said not to be absent in court to listen to the verdict on their client.

This ruling was for the second of two matters Fotso has been standing trial for. He was also fined 19 Billion FCFA for the financial losses caused Camair as a result of his embezzlement. Money stuffed in some 15 bank accounts that he owned, earlier frozen, was also asked to be confiscated.

Fotso’s lawyers, it should be recalled, had petitioned the court last February, announcing their withdrawal from the trial, alleging unfair procedure. Their withdrawal proceeded that of Fotso who had written to the SCC, announcing that he was no longer going to appear in court because the trial was being conducted in a biased manner.

The judgement was delivered by a trial team headed by Justice Virginie Elise Eloundou, assisted by Justice Siewe Yvette and Justice Hayatou Zakiatou.

The Advocates General were Justice Tagim and Justice Omam Fils. After declaring Fotso guilty of embezzlement, it was Advocate General Omam Fils who asked for the maximum jail term and the retention of his seized property and frozen bank accounts.

Counsel for the State, Barrister Sama Francis Asanga, supported the position of Justice Omam Fils, but also added that commensurate losses for the gov’t caused by the embezzlement be charged the defendant too. Barrister Ngongo Ottou, lawyer for Camair Liquidation, asked for losses equivalent to 6 percent annual interest on the embezzled amount of 34.4 Billion from 2010 to 2016. He also demanded 500 Million FCFA as cost for moral losses caused the Camair Liquidation Committee.

Prior to Monday’s sentence, Fotso was already serving a 25-year jail term alongside others, for embezzling about FCFA 21 Billion FCFA meant for the purchase of a presidential aircraft, the Bb jet 2. They were sentenced on September 12, 2012 by the Mfoundi High Court in Yaounde.

Fotso’s only recourse means praying hard from his tiny cell that President Biya dies soon, so he may find reprieve from his successor.