Iya Mohamed trial opens August 26, 2014

Iya Mohammed was at the Special Criminal Court (TCS) Wednesday, August 13 where he was notified the date of the opening of his trial. It is scheduled for next Tuesday, August 26.

The former CEO of SODECOTON has been booked for trial by the judge, Evouh Ekanga, who brought against him facts of embezzlement following a judicial inquiry conducted for nearly a year.

Upon an initiation of the investigation by TCS, lya Mohammed’s counsel noted deficiencies in the expert report prepared by state auditors after a control mission in SODECOTON.

Before the judge, counsel of the former CEO of SODECOTON asked for a second opinion. After hearing the Deputy Director General and Director of Corporate Affairs of SODECOTON, magistrate Evouh Ekanga ordered a second opinion against the report of CONSUPE.

This other audit was entrusted to private companies, including three accounting firms approved by the Court of Appeals of the Centre region, which was mandated by the judge. The work of these experts was to last from 27 November to 27 December 2013, exactly 1 month.

However, in December 2013, they told the judge they needed more time, Evouh Ekanga added 1 extra month, which finally on 27 January 2014, the report was submitted to the judge.

After receiving the conclusions of forensic experts sent to Garoua, the judge notified the report to the counsels (the lya Mohammed defense and the prosecutor's office) that have made their observations.

It was after this procedure, that Evouh Ekanga felt there was sufficient evidence against the former president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT).

Based on the report of CONSUPE lya Mohammed should explain undue wage benefits of 24.3 million CFA francs, and accomplices Lucien Fotso (Chief Accountant), Mahamat Karagama (sales manager) and Christophe Mbaiougam (wanted) causing a loss of 8.5 million FCFA to SODECOTON on oil and “tourtereaux”, having taken 7 million CFA francs in a public market.

He is also accused with, Lucien Fotso and Peter Kaptene (President of Coton Sport) to have incurred expenses to the amount of 4.7 million CFA francs for the benefit of sports associations without this being included in the SODECOTON social object and without the authorization of the Board of Directors of the company.

lya Mohammed must also justify for an unjustified benefit of around 350 million CFA francs.

Arrested June 10, 2013 in Yaounde, lya Mohammed was kept in the legal central research of the national police for 9 days.

On June 19, the night he was charged with embezzlement he was taken in custody at the Yaounde Central Prison where he is still locked up.