‘Sparrow Hawk’ potential victims beg journalists for clues

Journalists in Kumba, Meme Division of the Southwest Region have come under pressure from high profile civil servants (active and retired) alongside municipal authorities, to identify the names of the next victims [embezzlers of public funds] of the operation Sparrow Hawk.

Since the arrest of Professor Gervais Mendo Ze, former Cameroon Radio and Television CRTV, General Manager, and the increasing number of summons issued by the Special Criminal Court to high profile citizens across the national territory, most of President Biya’s appointees former and current have been having sleepless nights.

Others The Post learnt, spend time making lengthy phone calls just to be sure the Presidential Sparrow Hawk does not descend on them.

Those who appear helpless in the face of the storm have seen the men of the press as those who could help track the lists so that, in case their names feature, they should be informed.

A reporter working for one of the English language newspapers, who was contacted told The Post, on condition of anonymity: "…It was about 4:30 am when my phone rang and the caller introduced himself and requested me to keep an eye on the list of those in Kumba who can possibly be arrested. I laughed and replied that the list I have seen, this far, does not contain his name, and the caller sighed and said ‘thank God’."

Another reporter who had the same experience explained to The Post that the situation remains funny and shows how ignorant some 'bigmen' are, given that it is not the press that orders for arrests, neither is it the press that decides on whom the Special Criminal Court summons.

Despite the unending responses, some of the panic-stricken potential Sparrow Hawk victims have pleaded with the press to keep track of any important information or list of potential victims so that, the decisions do not take them by surprise.

Also included in the list of those afraid of the fresh wave of the Sparrow Hawk prey are officials at the Finance Department, Municipal Authorities and their collaborators, contractors of famous projects in Kumba, school administrators and a group of medical personnel that reportedly appeared in Court in 2012, following a racket involving the handling of drugs.

Two weeks ago, there were reports of special control teams dispatched from Yaounde to Kumba, Mbonge and Konye, with key interest in the management of municipal Councils in the last mandate spanning 2007 to 2013 and part of the current mandate.

The control teams are reported to have picked holes in the award procedure and management of finances related to major projects such as the purchase of heavy equipment like caterpillars and the construction of Council buildings.