Mvogo Etoundi refutes fraud allegations

The next hearing has been slated for March 31 and April 1, 2015, for the examination-in-chief of the accused to continue.

Mvogo Etoundi Jules Martin has refuted charges of fraudulently signing two cheques worth FCFA 46 million and FCFA 5 million belonging to two clients when he was at the helm of the Banking Department at CAMPOST.

He made the declarations on March 10, 2015, in Yaounde at the Special Criminal Court during hearing of the case pitting the State of Cameroon and the Cameroon Postal Services (CAMPOST) against him and Miste Gisèle.

Mvogo Etoundi and Miste Gisèle, a former CAMPOST cashier, are accused of embezzling over FCFA 447 million from CAMPOST between 2011 and 2013.

The deficit was noticed following an audit in 2013 by CAMPOST. Mvogo Etoundi is alleged to have carried out several forbidden operations, including authorising payments of blank cheques. Also, he is accused of fraudulently withdrawing FCFA 51 million, being money belonging to three clients.

The trial before a panel of judges led by Justice Francis Moukoury began with the verification of the prosecution and defence counsels. It centred on the examination-in-chief of Mvogo Etoundi and interrogation of defence witnesses.

As was decided in the last sitting, CAMPOST was supposed to produce exhibits for the defence solicited by Mvogo Jules from the prosecution since March 2014.

The documents were submitted, but Defence Lawyer, Barrister Angoni Laurent, argued that they were not certified. This notwithstanding, the examination-in-chief continued.

Concerning the two cheques, Barrister Angoni sought to know if Mvogo Etoundi signed them and handed to Miste Gisèle who paid the money into his account. Mvogo Etoundi said he did not. Asked whether he knew the beneficiaries of the cheques, he said he could not say because they were paid in his absence.

Asked whether he went to his office before the audit took place on April 2 and 3, 2013, he said he was absent because he was sick. The presiding judge then adjourned the case to March 31 and April 1, 2015 for the examination-in-chief of Mvogo Etoundi Jules and interrogation of defence witnesses to continue. Meanwhile, Miste Gisèle is still on the run.