MINEDUB Trial: Over FCFA 300 million reimbursed

The former Minister of Basic Education and co-accused regained their freedom after reimbursing embezzled State funds.

Criminal charges against the erstwhile Minister of Basic Education had been dropped by the Special Criminal court in Yaoundé. The decision to drop all the charges against her was pronounced on Thursday September 19, 2013 by the President of the Special Criminal Court, Mr. Justice Yap Abdou. The former minister was set free on September 19, 2013 after she had reimbursed FCFA 212.5 million on February 2013.

Haman Adama born, Halimatou Kangue Mahonde, was arrested on January 6, 2010 and remanded at the Kondengui Central Prison in Yaounde. She was charged with misappropriation of public funds and for improper award of Public Contracts at the Ministry of Basic Education when she was at the helm of the ministry during the period 2005-2006. The embezzled fund stood at FCFA 102 million.

The accused resituated to the public treasury FCFA 212.000.000. The decision was equally in favour of the other co-accused who equally resituated State funds making a total of FCFA 369 million paid to the state treasury in the case pitting the State of Cameroon and the Ministry of Basic Education against Haman Adama and co-accused.

The case is still pending at the Supreme Court in Yaounde for appeal. Haman Adama was arrested on January 6, 2010 and was placed in pre-trial detention at the Kondengui Central Prison in Yaounde. Her first appearance before the Special Criminal Court dates back to May 23, 2013.