Final statements from Olanguena Awono and co-accused rounded-off submissions yesterday.

July 30, 2013 has been fixed by the Special Criminal Court, SCC, for the announcement of the verdict in the embezzlement suit opposing the Legal Department and the State of Cameroon to former Public Health Minister, Urbain Olanguena Awono, and five others. Presiding Judge Mr. Justice Francis Moukoury and the panel of judges decided so yesterday July 17, 2013 after listening to final statements from the accused who are held responsible for embezzling FCFA 287 million meant for programmes to fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis between 2002 and 2006.

In the final statements that followed submissions by defence lawyers from 15t to 17th July, 2013, Olanguena Awono said he posed no act in the matter for which he was standing before the court. He said while serving as Minister of Public Health, he worked in conformity with instructions from the Head of State to contribute ambitious health policies through public health programmes that knew great success in Cameroon. “Our sole worry was to preserve the health of the Cameroonian population,” he explained, adding that at no time they had the objective to embezzle funds. He ended by demanding acquittal so that he and his former collaborators could join their families after five years of preventive detention.

On his part, Dr. Hubert Wang, former permanent secretary of the Tuberculosis programme, said justifying documents have been provided for all missions undertaken and paid by his services have been