The Legal Department says all accused persons are guilty of embezzlement and should defend themselves in court.

Amongst the 25 State agents, Senior State and Contract workers from the Ministry of Finance called up by the Special Criminal Court (SCC) in Yaounde for the misappropriation of public funds, complicity in the embezzlement of public fund, fraudulent use of government treasure bonds as well as falsifying government documents to collect money from the State coffers, the Legal Department of the SCC yesterday February 18, 2016 stated that there was tangible prove against eight of the accused which requires that they defend themselves before the court.

During hearing on the matter yesterday, the Head of the Legal Department, Advocate General, Didier Edjisna noted that the prosecution has gathered prove that the eight accused were involved in the misappropriation of public funds, complicity in the embezzlement of public fund, fraudulent use of government treasure bonds as well as falsified  government documents to collect money from the State coffers found at the Ngoa-Ekelle Centre Treasury in Yaounde I and III, as well as at the Yaounde General Treasury.

Advocate General, Didier Edjisna said during the prosecution case, one of the witnesses, Idi Oumarou, who is Head of Revenue Collectors at the Ngoa-Ekelle Treasury explained how when he was appointed to head the pay point, after three months in service, he noticed some ill-practices carried out by his collaborators operating as tellers in the treasury.

During the testimony, Idi Oumarou said his collaborators falsified bank account numbers, fingerprints and other vital documents before collecting money from pay vouchers belonging to other people. Most of the said pay vouchers, the Head of Revenue Collector explained, had to do with retirement and invalidity benefits.

 Advocate General Didier Edjisna said statistics show that the accused persons through their scheme misappropriated public funds from the Yaounde General Treasury worth over FCFA 540 million; over FCFA 134 million from the Yaounde I pay point and over FCFA 70 million from the Yaounde I treasury point.

The Head of the penal of Judges hearing the case, Mr Justice Francis Claude Michel Moukoury said there was enough prove and the accused persons should present their defence in court. They had the choice to make a declaration on oath or not but bring witnesses to defend their case. The case was adjourned to March 10 and 11, 2016 for the defence case to open.