Jean Paul Akono robbed of 20 million FCFA

Former Indomitable Lions coach, Jean-Paul Akono, has had almost 20 million FCFA stolen during his flight from Yaoundé to Paris.

It has not been the best year for the former coach who arrived in the French capital for a medical check following a stroke in May 2013.

A source close to the victim said he had exchanged the large sum of money into euros before going to the Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport, but when he arrived at his final destination he realised the bag containing the cash was almost empty, with just 80 euros remaining.

There was a strong suspicion the thief belonged to the inner circle of Mr Akono. His friend and confidant, Ngono Moukongo and younger brother of Coach George Akono, were arrested by the gendarmerie du Lac, in the premises of the SED Yaoundé, where Moukongo remains in custody.

A family member of the former coach said: “Ngono is the one that accompanied coach Akono to change the money. It was he who carried the bag containing the money until Akono boarded the plane to France and is believed to have misappropriated the money in collusion with George."

Pending the outcome of the investigation by the police, Mr Akono had returned to the Cameroonian capital to renew his visa and spend time with loved ones but is now currently in care in France.

This is not the first time the former coach has fallen victim to theft. After winning gold in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he had been robbed of 40 million FCFA.