Lydienne Yen-Eyoum sentenced to 25 yrs in prison for embezzlement of state funds

French lawyer, Lydienne Yen-Eyoum, who has been detained since January 2010, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for embezzlement of public funds by the special criminal court (CHT) on Friday in Yaounde.

Lydienne was arrested under anti-corruption operation "Epervier” which commenced in 2006 by President Paul Biya who has been the Head of State since 1982. At the end of the hearing, the sentenced lawyer said she was going to appeal to the Supreme Court in a brief interview with AFP. “She did not commit any offence", Mr. Yondo Black said.

The judges also said Ms. Lydienne Yen-Eyoum, who was held in the Cameroonian capital since January 8, 2010, was found guilty of embezzling 1,077 billion CFA FRANCS (1.5 million euros).

After having granted her mitigating circumstances, judges have imposed a sentence of "25 years of imprisonment". In addition, they sentenced her to pay together with two others a fine of 1.153 billion CFA FRANCS.

The former Minister of finance, Polycarpe Abah Abah, was acquitted for 'non-established facts' in the same case. A bailiff was also released. The President of the French association, SOS Racisme, Dominique Sopo, expressed shock after finding out about the conviction of the lawyer subjectively detained since 2010.

Also french of Cameroonian origin, Michel Atangana was released in February after 17 years in prison for a case of embezzlement of public funds that he denied.