Issa Tchiroma Speaks on 1995 Douala Plane Crash

The Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary yesterday, September 25 gave a press conference during which he gave clarifications on the CAMAIR Boeing 737-200 TJ-CBE crash in Douala on December 3, 1995 and the Mfoundi High Court verdict of September 22, 2012 relating to the embezzlement of 29 million US Dollars disbursed by the State of Cameroon for the purchase of an aircraft for the trips of the President of the Republic.

Douala Plane Crash

Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary talking on why government was communicating on the incident at the moment, said "Media time is not government time, given that, while media organs are on the rush for breaking news events, the government on its part, always has to, in a critical and responsible approach, cross-check, investigate and verify information before publishing genuine one."

Facts on Incident

The Minister presented officials of the insurance company, Chanas Assurance SA who transmitted data to government on the incident. He said there were three survivors from the crash comprising one Cameroonian, one Liberian and one Beninese. The crash involved a total of 71 passengers from different nationalities. There were 43 Cameroonians, eight Beninese, six Nigeriens, three Senegalese, two Liberians and two Togolese. There were equally one passenger from each of the following countries; Nigeria, France, Congo, Mali, Germany, Netherlands and a Swiss Canadian.

Compensation of victims

Citing information from documents transmitted by the Chanas Assurance SA, the Minister said for three cases, no compensation application was submitted up to the prescribed deadline. The cases concerned a Liberian, Senegalese and Cameroonian. One file concerning a Beninese, was still being examined before the competent courts. According to Issa Tchiroma, apart from the above-mentioned cases, all the victims have been compensated. Main compensation for the beneficiaries or the survivors was FCFA 2,047,483,351 and FCFA 43,674,748 paid for bills including luggage, medical and lawyers' fees. He announced that the complete list of beneficiaries and amounts they received is available. The Minister also disclosed that Cameroon Airline has been compensated for up to 7 million US Dollars.

Presidential Plane Case

The Minister of Communication also talked of the Mfoundi High Court verdict of September 22, 2012 relating to the embezzlement of 29 million US Dollars disbursed by the State of Cameroon for the purchase of an aircraft for the trips of the President of the Republic. It precisely concerned Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) case. The court sentenced the different defendants to corresponding 25, 15 and 10 years imprisonment and all of them to pay a fine for damages to the State of Cameroon amounting to FCFA 21 billion and a fine of FCFA 1 billion. "Our aim is not to comment on the verdict of the court", the minister said. He clarified that government was out to appreciate the cleaning and moralization of public life.

The Communication Minister finally announced the General Estate (Forum) for Communication whose preparations were underway in the ministry. Its aim will be to rebuild relationships between press organs and the government for quality plural information, the minister said. His presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session.