Judge Postpones AIDS Fund Trial Verdict

Mr Justice Francis Moukoury on July 30 fixed August 12, 2013 for the ruling.

The Special Criminal Court yesterday, July 30, 2013 in Yaounde, failed to deliver the awaited verdict in the case pitting the Legal Department and State of Cameroon against former Public Health Minister Urbain Olanguena Awono and six others for acting in concert to embezzle FCFA 287 million in different programmes meant to fight AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis between 2002 and 2006.

Before adjourning the case to August 12, 2013, the presiding judge, Mr. Justice Francis Moukoury, told the full courtroom that the verdict was not ready. Prior to yesterday's hearing, the Legal Department led by Advocate General David Weshiba and Barrister Augustin Nguefack representing the State of Cameroon as civil claimer, had delivered submissions on June 10, 2013 in which they requested the court to charge criminal responsibility for the preliminary inquiry and arguments in court had demonstrated that the accused were guilty.

David Wesiheba submitted that as Minister of Public Health, Urbain Olanguena Awono fraudulently withheld over FCFA 11 million to fund the publication of his book, "AIDS in Africa", and endorsed the payment of an unexecuted contract by Vision Sarl Company to supply treated mosquito bed nets worth FCFA 80 million.

He also said Vision Sarl's manager, Nsoe Mbella, should be held guilty of embezzlement while the stores accountant, Onana Belibi, and former permanent secretary of the Malaria control programme, Dr. Okalla Abodo, were alleged accomplices because they signed the reception receipt of the mosquito bed nets. Concerning Dr Chia Rose, the Advocate General said she was guilty for not justifying expenses amounting to FCFA 158 million.

Meanwhile, David Wesiheba also held former permanent secretary of the Tuberculosis Control Programme, Dr. Hubert Wang, as guilty for not justifying some mission allowances worth FCFA 13 million to the Examining Magistrate. Dr. Feuzeu Maurice was held responsible for acquiring 3,000 copies of Minister Olanguena's book and earning undue allowances.

Defence Lawyers led by Barrister Antoine Marcel Mong, from 15 to 17 July 2013, presented submissions in which they doubted the credibility of some prosecution witnesses, upheld forged signatures in some of the documentary evidence adduced by prosecution, drew attention to evidence justifying expenses and missions, all in a bid to abscond their clients of criminal responsibility before demanding their acquittal.