The first hearing of the case pitting the State of Cameroon, the Yaounde General Hospital against François Sandji took place at the Special Criminal Court in Yaounde yesterday June 27, 2013. The session before the panel of judges led by Yvette Siewe began with the reading of the counts against François Sandji by the court registrar and the verification of the prosecution and defence counsels.
The session focused on the examination-in-chief, cross-examination, and re-examination of prosecution witnesses. Even though the witnesses of the defence were absent, defence lawyer, Barrister Abel Longa opted for the hearing to continue. Mengong Abessolo, head of the kitchen department in the Yaounde General Hospital was the first to mount the witness box as prosecution witness. During examination-in-chief, Advocate General Didier Edjisner, sought to know about the embezzlement of equipment worth FCFA 77 million and belonging to the Yaounde General Hospital. Mengong Abessolo said François Sandji was awarded a contract to run the kitchen of the Yaounde General Hospital in 2002 at the time when the kitchen department had received equipment and even staff.
He explained that when Sandji's contract expired, the hospital authorities carried out an inventory in which it was noticed that most of the equipment belonging to the Yaounde General Hospital was missing. At the time, François Sandji was also working for the Catholic University of Central Africa. In effect, some of the missing equipment was found in the Catholic University of Central Africa in Ekounou and Nkolbisson campuses.
Barrister Njapndouke Kentouma, representing the State as civil claimant, sought to know at what time the hospital authorities noticed the loss in the kitchen sector. Mengong Abessolo said when Sandji won the contract, the patients and staff were receiving meals regularly but it was at the end of his contract that the authorities noticed a lack of equipment to produce food. He further said only one meal was served and sometimes no meals were served at all. As a result, the hospital management decided to take over the management of the kitchen. Asked how the hospital management got to know that the equipment was found in the Catholic University campuses of Ekounou and Nkolbisson, he said during the inventory they were informed by other staff who working with François Sandji.
Defence Lawyer, Abel Longa, sought to know for how long the equipment that was embezzled in 2005 had been in the hospital. Mengong said the equipment had been in the hospital since the creation of the Yaounde General Hospital.
The second witness, Desiré Nkoulou, head of the security department of the Yaounde General Hospital said has seen equipment going out of the hospital several times and informed hierarchy. He explained that the security agents seized equipment that was going out of the hospital and called his attention. He then recognised them as kitchen equipment.
The stores accountant of the hospital, Njifen Enock, who is the main prosecution witness was absent. The case was adjourned to July 18, 2013 for questioning of the defence witnesses.
