The Divisional Controller of Finance for Lebialem in the South West Region testified in court yesterday.

Hearing of witnesses in the case between the State of Cameroon against Marcus Ndumbe Mbessa, Charles Etah Njoh and the enterprise “Njoh and Sons Distribution” continued yesterday March 19 at the Special Criminal Court in Yaounde with the Divisional Controller of Finance for Lebialem Division in Menji, South West Region, Joseph Batemayor, testifying.

He did not visa the  yellow copy of a pay voucher which could have committed the State to pay the second and third accused; Charles Etah Njoh and the enterprise “Njoh and Sons Distribution”, over FCFA 50 million for the rehabilitation of a road network between Bechati and Wabane in Lebialem. In a testimony and cross-examination of the witness which lasted over six hours, Joseph Batemayor told the court that he was surprised when the said pay voucher was presented to the Menji High Court for the first time, showing that he had signed for the second and third accused to cash the money from State treasury. 

Yesterday at the court, before the head of the college of Judges, Mr Justice Abednego Bea Kala and his team heard the witness, the court deliberated over a letter sent by the counsels of the first accused in which they indicated that they were sick and will be available during the second week of April. The different parties in court wondered if ill health has become something that could be programmed. While noting that the witnesses where coming from very far (South and East Region), Mr Justice Abednego Bea Kala asked the first accused if the court session could go on without his counsels. He gave a positive reply.

The witness, Joseph Batemayor said when Charles Etah Njoh and the enterprise “Njoh and Sons Distribution was attributed the contract in October 2008, he received a file from the Divisional Delegate of Public Works containing an advanced payment of FCFA 20 million to the second and third accused for work to start. Joseph Batemayor explained that later he received a pay voucher booklets with some vouchers destined for Charles Etah Njoh and the enterprise “Njoh and Sons Distribution” worth over FCFA 50 million. Joseph Batemayor said he did not treat the pay vouchers because they were not regular. According to him, they were empty without any statement testifying the level of work done.

Noting that the financial year was coming to an end and given the social instability in the area due to the fact that the road had not be rehabilitated, Joseph Batemayor said the then Senior Divisional Officer summoned a meeting to see how the credit for the road could be safeguarded and used when Charles Etah Njoh and the enterprise “Njoh and Sons Distribution” will be ready to complete work on the road. To safeguard the credit, Joseph Batemayor said he visa the blue copy of the pay voucher although it was irregular to do that. 

He said the yellow copy which could have committed the State to pay the second and third accused was not signed.  By press time, the court was returning from a break to continue hearing with the third prosecution witness who is the former Divisional Treasurer for Lebialem, but current Deputy Treasurer General for the East Region at the Bertoua Regional Treasury.