Roger Ntongo Onguéné’s fate to be decided on October 23

The trial opposing the prosecution and the ADC against Ntongo Onguéné and company for misappropriation of public funds is coming to an end as Ntongo Onguéné's fate will be decided on October, 23.

The October 15, 2015, hearing was postponed due to "a problem of collegiality of the court", reported the newspaper La Nouvelle Expression in its Friday, October 16, 2015, edition.

Recalling the genesis of this procedure which was opened on January 14, 2015, the newspaper informed that "the case began with a denunciation of the National Financial Investigation Agency (Anif). Meanwhile, a commission was set up to appraise the overall management of Chief Roger Ntongo Onguéné for the period of August 1, 2003, to December 31, 2007.

The commission of experts was conducted by Mr. Delong Dissack. The report of the Committee revealed numerous financial embezzlement, fraudulent bank withdrawals as well as withdrawals of amounts without proof of funds of ADC to the prejudice of the structure.

Ntongo Onguéné was arrested on January 6, 2010. The ex-DG and some of his collaborators were prosecuted "for a string of charges. These includes the misappropriation of public funds, co-action of misappropriation of public funds, proven manufacturing perpetration of complicity and fake bank entries co-operation."

The newspaper revealed that "the damage suffered by such public entity of the state is estimated, according to the prosecution, at more than three billion FCFA."

In detail, Roger Ntongo Onguéné was accused of embezzling (FCFA 1,093,000 000) Christophe Désiré Bengono (FCFA 1,061,000 000); Mbengono Metoutou Arlette (FCFA 454 515 000); Eny Pierre, dead (50 000 000F); Sylvestre Ndongo (62 803 013); Eliane Bisso, on the run (FCFA 95 000 000)and Jean Ntéré, service (FCFA 855 434 850).

At the opening of the proceedings, the accused had pleaded not guilty. The court is, however, yet to decide on October 23, 2015.