FCFA 400 million EU AIDS project money embezzled

3 former employees of the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMSB), are accused of stealing part of the money allocated to Cameroon by the European Union (EU) as part of the fight against HIV / AIDS, the FMSB / EU / AIDS project.

Victor Mukeba Sone, Judith Ngambong Abongwa and Mercy Dokia Etaga Ntoh, all three are charged with suspicion of embezzlement of about 348 million FCFA by the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT). Some co-accused are on the run.

According to the Kalara newspaper of Monday, October 26, 2015, on May 26, 2001, through MINEPAT, Cameroon signed an EU financing agreement amounting to 1.525 billion FCFA to finance the training of 250 laboratory technicians specialized in the field of the fight against HIV / AIDS.

An account at the NFC Bank, which would only be used for bank transfers was opened. Feu Peter Ndoumbe as Dean of the faculty is the only signatory to the account in which the funds were paid, and "the premises of the halted project (study center and control of communicable diseases) which Peter Ndoumbe was also coordinator will serve as facilities for the FMSB / EU / AIDS project."

In July 2007, the National Investigation Agency (ANIF), was before the Attorney General of Mfoundi calling for an indictment. It states that "a vast network of embezzlement was carried out by an organized money laundering gang orchestrated by Peter Ndoumbe, Victor Mukeba Sone, Judith Ngambong Abongwa and Mercy Dokia Etaga Ntoh".

The judicial expert in charge of investigation, Delon Dissack said they found numerous irregularities from the opened bank account of the project. He found "losses of more than 438 million CFA francs."

"Peter Ndoumbe produced his land title as collateral at the Bank NFC. Then, when he himself does not disburse the funds, he signs checks for the three accused to withdraw cash or to deposit in one of his two personal accounts opened at the NFC Bank and Standard Chartered Bank, or in that of the defunct Centre project for study and control of communicable diseases having no legal connection with the proposed fight against HIV-AIDS," reported the newspaper.

The accused have already confessed to the preliminary investigation, but fled afterwards. According to counsel for the FMSB and MINEPAT, the account of Ndoumbe Peter served as a transit to steal money from the account in which the funds were allocated by the EU. The accused then shared the loot.

The case was postponed to Thursday, 29 October 2015 for the court to reclassify the charges, as the accused are now fugitives.