Ambassa Zang and Félix Mekongo sentenced to life imprisonment

The collegiate of the Tribunal Criminel Spécial (TCS) led by its President, M. Yap Abou sentenced to life the former Minister of Public Transport, Dieudonné Ambassa Zang and his co-accused Félix Debauplan Abega Mekongo for the misappropriation of five billion and 694 million FCFA respectively.

As accessories to the case, Scholastica Bikié Henriette Simone (ex deputy director of human resources), Mengue Meka Jean-Robert (former Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Works), Naah Obono Pierre Germain (former departmental delegate of public works for Upper Nyong at Abong-Mbang), all four acquitted respectively. They formed part of the six defendants who were prosecuted by the state since the year 2013 in which the order of arrest were issued against them.

Before the proceedings, the former Minister Ambassa Zang who argued to go for a check-up in Europe left Cameroon, but in the process left behind some of his companions in misfortune, like Jean-Robert Mengue Meka, former Secretary-General of Public Works, who were arrested and detained at the central prison in Kondengui.

On Thursday, July 18, 2015, the collegiality under the leadership of President Mr. Yap Abdou, entered the room I and the TCS was superheated for the exceptional circumstances. Immediately after the reading of the roll by the clerk, he took over proceedings on the case of Jean-Robert Mengué Meka, former SG of the Ministry of Public Works.

The two were condemned to life imprisonment and prosecuted for misappropriation of 153.730 million F, but as part of the acquisition of hard evidence, former prefect of the department Mungo was declared not guilty to charges brought against him and acquitted.

Secondly, it was the turn of Henriette Simone Bikié Scholastica, former Deputy Director of Human Resources who was charged with misappropriation of 28,952,000 F of mission expenses paid to staff with no receipt. As in the previous case, the court ruled in her favor outright and she was released.

For the case of Nnah Obono Pierre Germain, former Departmental Delegate of Public Works in Abong-Mbang, which produced neither minutes nor account of mismanagement in the rehabilitation of the bridges Kobdombo and Somalomo at a cost of 40.930 million F, Yap Abdou and his peers once again expressed support for the full acquittal of the accused.

Regarding Dieudonné Ambassa Zang Télesphore, former Minister of Public Works and Felix Debauplan Abega Mekongo, former contract administrator at the Ministry of Public Works, respectively were accused of misuse of five billion and 694 million in complicity which the court ruled in favor of their life sentence.

After reading the sentences, the President of collegiate of Judges gave the floor to the counsel for the State of Cameroon to enable them to determine the amounts of damage to their client. Reacting to the concern of the court, the counsel assigned by the public prosecutor, said he had not had time to assess the material damage.

As soon as word was given to the representative of the Public Prosecutor, he immediately indicated that a referral for the damage assessment was not appropriate. "let’s start all over with this procedure, different amounts had been given and are known to all," said the Attorney General.

At 1:05 p.m. the hearing was suspended by President Abdou Yap to the usual consultations. Minutes after they returned into the courtroom, the President of the Collegiate with his peers, asked the audience to stand up for the ultimate verdict.

The court then upheld the outright acquittal of the accused: Bikié Scholastique Henriette Simone, Mengue Meka Robert and Jean Pierre Germain Naah Obono. Dieudonné Ambassa Zang Telesphore and Felix Debauplan Abega Mekongo were convicted and sentenced in absentia and punished respectively to pay 5 billion 126 million FCFA and 694 million 475 FCFA to the State of Cameroon in damages.

In addition, two of the accused are sentenced to life imprisonment, said President Abdou Yap.