The case pitting the State of Cameroon and the Yaounde General Hospital against François Sandji is gradually coming to an end. The third session took place at the Special Criminal Court in Yaounde yesterday August 1, 2013. The session focused on the provisional submissions of the prosecution.
In his presentation, Advocate General, Didier Edjisner, said the embezzlement case against François Sandji was sent to the Special Criminal Court on September 28, 2008. On August 26, 2008 the Yaounde General Hospital filed a complaint against the company Speedi Multiservices headed by François Sandji for the embezzlement of kitchen equipment worth over FCFA 77 million. The equipment was used following an agreement of August 12, 2002 linking the company Speedi Multiservices to the Yaounde General Hospital. The objective was to use the equipment to supply food to patients.
Following an audit by the accounts department, it was noticed that some of the kitchen equipment belonging to the Yaounde General Hospital were missing. It happened that François Sandji was equally in charge of the kitchen of the Catholic University of Central Africa which has two campuses in Ekounou and Nkolbisson, respectively. From the findings, it was noticed that some of the mission's equipments were found in the two campuses. That, according to the Advocate General, is why the State wants that François Sandji should defend himself against the accusations made against him.
The counsel for the Civil claimant, Barrister Njapndouke Kentouma, requested that the case be adjourned to a later date as the document catalogue, "La Mercurielle Belge", which has the different designs of the stolen equipment and their prices in Belgian currency and which was supposed to be presented in court as evidence against François Sandji had not yet been formalised by the hospital authorities. Defence Lawyer, Barrister Abel Longa, argued that the director of the hospital does not have the capacity to certify a catalogue. He argued that the prosecution has to show a receipt and not a catalogue. The case was however adjourned to August 13, 2013 pending presentation of evidence by the prosecution.
