Tsimi E. Patrice's case of embezzlement now a scam

The second hearing of the Douala Port Authority trial that held on September 15, 2014, featured a letter from the port management announcing its withdrawal as civil claimant.

Defence lawyers in the case pitting the Legal Department, the State of Cameroon and the Port of Douala against businessman, Tsimi Enyegue Patrice, as well as Douala Port Authority’s former General Manager, Jean Marcel Dayas Mounoume and two others, yesterday, September 15, 2014, at the Special Criminal Court in Yaounde notified the court of the existence of a letter from the General Manager of the Douala Port Authority, Etoundi Oyono, halting embezzlement charges against the accused.

Tsimi Enyegue Patrice is accused of embezzling FCFA 458,420,344 as illegal payments through cheques which he cashed between 2009 and 2010 on behalf of White Nile Corporation (WNC), a service provider at the Douala Port. Jean Marcel Dayas Mounoume, Essomba Eloundou Arsène Lezin Marie and Agbor Manguieb Abel, all port staff at the time, were held as accomplices.

The second hearing yesterday, which was dedicated to the production of lists of witnesses, took another twist when the defence lawyers told the panel of judges led by Mrs Justice Siewe Yvette that there was something new worthy of their attention. “What is this letter all about?” quizzed Mrs Justice Siewe.

The lawyers responded that the letter from Douala Port Authority’s General Manager, Etoundi Oyono, to Barrister Patrice Monthe, lawyer of one of the accused, Jean Marcel Mounoume, said the Douala Port Authority was no longer constituted as civil claimant in the case and that it was no longer a matter of embezzlement of public funds but a scam.

“This letter, which was copied to the President of the Special Criminal Court, sows doubt in our minds and we want to know the Port’s position,” said Barrister Emmanuel Ngouen, counsel for Tsimi Enyegue Patrice.

On the civil claimant’s bench, the half-dozen lawyers representing the State of Cameroon and the Douala Port Authority were all on their feet for a counter-attack. “We know nothing about the letter you are talking about. We need a copy so as to be able to respond in writing accordingly,” yelled Barrister Ngann Supermann, lawyer of the Port of Douala.

Quelling down the mounting verbal cross-fire, Mrs Justice Siewe adjourned the hearing to the 15th and 16th of October, 2014, for the examination of prosecution witnesses.