Abah Abah Case: Commercial Bank of Cameroon impedes the continuity of the trial

The fifth hearing of the case between the State of Cameroon and the former Minister of Finance, Polycarpe Abah Abah, about an alleged embezzlement of more than FCFA 1 billion, was held on Tuesday September 1 at the Special Criminal Court in the presence of the main accused.

According to the daily Le Messager in its Wednesday September 2, 2015 edition, "it was expected that the hearing will proceed with the production of the accounts history by the Commercial Bank of Cameroon, historical accounts of Polycarpe Abah Abah, the accounts of the tax department which enabled repayment Vat and Tca at the time or if Abah Abah led this administration."

The newspaper reported that "the history of these accounts had not been during the hearing on both Monday, August 31 and Tuesday 1 September 2015." The absence of these documents as well as the prosecution witness, did not allow for the to be held. The case was adjourned to Sept. 17, 2015.

According to the indictment, "Polycarpe Abah Abah was charged with embezzling more than FCFA 1 billion when he served as Chief of taxes at the Finance Ministry. The case against him is that violated the due enactment of an agreement between the government and BEAC which was signed on February 3, 1999 which did not allow him to open accounts in private commercial banks to repay Vat credit, Tca taxpayers and at the time it existed."

"Abah Abah is accused of these evidences since he transited money in the accounts of the General Tax Directorate, which were housed in these commercial banks, to his personal accounts and also paid some taxpayers for repayment of Vat by his private account. It involves anything that helps retain retention for fraudulently obtaining public funds while prohibited by law," said the charge.