Ambassa Case: Plea of the defense

Lawyers in their pleadings have questioned the guilt verdict of the Special Court last Tuesday at the Criminal Tribunal.

The case prosecutor and State of Cameroon (Ministry of Public Works) against Dieudonné Ambassa Zang, former public works minister, Felix Debeauplan Mekongo Abega, contractual framework of the Ministry of Public Works service administration, accused of embezzlement and Scholastique Henriette Simone Bikié, Deputy Director of Human Resources and focal point SIGIPES in that ministry, John Robert Mengue Meka, secretary general and Pierre Germain Nnah Obono, departmental delegate of Public Works in Abong-Mbang accused of embezzlement of complicity is moving towards the end.

At Tuesday's hearing in TCS, the defense attorneys in their pleadings have questioned the guilt of the accused by the Tribunal. According to Mr. Bruno Ngomo Mba, Jean Robert Mengue Meka board, the court produced no evidence to charge his client Jean Robert Mengue Meka.

"The facts that were the subject of criminal investigation are not those which have been the subject of debate. No new developments were noted during the discussion. You cannot charge someone for a fact that condemns the X and Y for a fact," he suggested.

According to counsel, the diversion of the sum of FCFA 153 million charged to the former SG of Ministry of Public Works for the investment market has no reason for the fact that this market has never existed.

Regarding the hardware, the board said it has indeed served the Ministry of Public Works and the accounting documents justifying their purchase are available. "We need to agree on the charges against Mengue Meka," concluded Mr. Bruno Ngomo Mba Obono Nnah.

Regarding Pierre Germain, it was demonstrated that the work on the rehabilitation of the bridge and the Kobdombo Somalomo tray were performed and the service provider who supplied the material was never paid. The report of the public prosecutor on the descent conducted at the scene was never produced in court.

After more than five hours of argument, the case has been adjoined for June 18 in order for the Court to rule on the guilt or innocence of the accused.