Nine jailed, one acquitted in flight ticket trial

The verdict was passed on October 21, 2014, at the Special Criminal Court in Yaounde.

Sow Moussa Samba has been acquitted in the case pitting the State of Cameroon and Camair-Co against him and nine others. The verdict was passed yesterday, October 21, 2014, at the Special Criminal Court in Yaounde.

Sow Moussa Samba, Mbarga Yannick, Lamsi Afanji Alain, Massango Blaisse, Elong Sipa Patrick, Mbia Mindom William, Kapsic Ngah Emmanuel, Formishi Bertrand, Zambo Bengono Guy G. and Dia Doro Samba, were accused of buying tickets online from Camair-Co using either fake or stolen credit cards.

Reading the judgment, Mrs Justice Eloundou Virginie revisited the committal order bringing the accused to court in 2012. She said Sow Moussa Samba and Co fraudulently obtained air tickets from Camair-Co between 2011 and 2012.

According to reports, the accused got into the website of Camair-Co and fraudulently bought electronic flight tickets, which they then sold. The amount of stolen online tickets is worth over FCFA 288 million. The crime is punishable under Sections 74, 96 and 184 of the Penal Code. Even though Camair-Co suspended online sales in January 2012, the fraud continued.

The accused had pleaded not guilty, arguing that Camair-Co created a site for online sales that was not protected. Barrister Balla Constantin Joseph, who stood as civil claimant, said with the exception of Sow Moussa Samba, the rest were guilty of embezzling State funds through Camair-Co and should be punished severely. He said Camair-Co was demanding over FCFA 2 billion as losses.

Advocate General Bikong said the accused must pay the amount to Camair-Co and should be sanctioned severely. He then proposed life imprisonment for the accused. Defence Lawyer, Barrister Emmanuel Ngouen, pleaded that the court should have mercy on the accused and give a considerable judgement.

Even though the accused were given the opportunity to make declarations, they all said they had nothing to say. The court then went on recess for 30 minutes after which Mrs Justice Eloundou Virginie then read the judgment.

Sow Moussa Samba was declared not guilty as the facts of the case against him were not well established. Mbarga Yannick, Lamsi Afanji Alain, Massango Blaisse, Elong Sipa Patrick, Mbia Mindom William and Kapsic Ngah Emmanuel, were sentenced to 10 years in prison.

They will collectively pay FCFA 14 million as losses to Camair-Co. The accused have 48 hours to appeal at the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Formishi Bertrand, Zambo Bengono Guy G. and Dia Doro Samba, who are still on the run, were sentenced to life imprisonment. Warrants of arrest were issued for them.