The Median Newspaper

25 cashiers in anti-corruption court for embezzlement
- Six now languishing in Kondengui prison; 10 others on the run
- Over FCFA 750 million declared missing
By Mercy Neba in Yaounde
Some 15 cashiers of the general treasury and other divisional and sub-divisional treasuries (perceptions) in Yaounde are presently facing the judge of the special criminal court in Yaounde on charges of embezzlement.
    10 others whose files were also sent to the court have vamoosed into thin air. Arrests warrants have since been issued for them.
    Of the 15 accuse persons who are appearing in court, six are under preventive detention at the Kondengui prison. They were transferred there on 21 January 2014 for some, and on 20 June 2014 for others.
    The six persons in Kondengui include: Azegue Nadine, Lum Bernadette Mofor, Tsalla Ndzie Noah Meyebe Virginie, Awuh Salome Anguh, Amougui Mbede Lucie and Mbezele Mbatzogo Anastasie.
    Nine others who are still moving freely but whose files are also in court include: Ebokolo Bile Mballa Christine, Baran Assiang Valentine Georgette, Djabbaram Mai, Ottou Mboe Christine Sandrine, Adjick Mirabelle, Bissong Manyo Etengeneng, Ekosso Ekwelle Giselle Nadege, Abeng Ntyama Jeanne-Marie and Ndzie Marie Rosine.
    As for the 10 persons on the run, they include; Mekong Ngah Anastasie, Ngo Bikoko Sophie Chantal, Mefaing Fils Boyomo Sebastien, Bouebe Yves Bertrand, Kamwa Tadntse Clarisse, Meyo Nkotto Loise and Etogo Mbassi Ettienne Vicky.
    The 25 accuse persons were assistant cashiers, cashiers, contract workers and assistant controllers of treasury at their respect divisional and sub-divisional treasuries. They allegedly committed the offence during the period between 2012 and 2013.

    They constitute the defendants in the case putting the people of Cameroon and the Ministry of Finance (the civilly liable party) against 25 accused persons.
    The 25 defendants are charged with embezzling state funds through double-payment of pay vouchers and of fabricating and paying fake pay vouchers.
    According to the report of the investigating magistrate, Justice Annie Noelle Bahounou Batende, who referred the matter to the special criminal court, the accused persons created a network through which they perpetrated their criminal activity. The judge arrived at this conclusion when she noticed that the crimes were committed by the same persons, within the same period.
    A total of 746.643.151 FCFA (approx. 750 million FCFA) was jointly and severally siphoned by the 25 accused persons.
    The matter was reported to the judicial police by the Paymaster (TPG) of Yaounde, Essono Francis Lin Mathieu, after he noticed that some doubtful payments had been made within his jurisdiction. The TPG’s attention was drawn to the fraud by a team of controllers who audited the treasury sometime in November 2013.
    The report of the audit indicted the cashiers of effecting new payments for vouchers that had already been paid in the previous month(s). They were also found to have faked some vouchers which they also paid.
    To enable them to carry out the fraud, these cashiers withdrew from the archives, vouchers which had already been paid; they modified the names and matriculation numbers on the pay vouchers and then infiltrated them among other vouchers that had to be paid. At times the fraudsters simply fabricated fake vouchers with fake names and matriculation numbers, which they paid.
    When summoned at the TPG’s office, some of the culprits admitted having committed the crimes. Members of the network would then share the booty among themselves.
    Though the matter has been in court since November 2013, it was only on 10 June 2015 that the accused persons first appeared before the judge of the special criminal court.
    The 25 accused persons are charged jointly and severally with embezzlement of public funds, complicity and attempt to embezzle public funds and fabricating and using fake documents (faux et usages de faux). They are said to have committed the crimes while they occupied their respective posts at different treasuries in Yaounde notably the general treasury and the Ngoa-Ekele and Djoungolo treasuries.
    The second hearing is expected to come up on 8 July 2015. It is during this hearing that the civil party (MINFI) will produce its witnesses, while the lawyers of the accuse persons will also start holding brief for them.

The accused persons and amounts embezzled

Name of the accuse    Amount in FCFA

Azegue Nadine        7 593 146Fcfa
Lum Bernadette Mofor    391 104 697Fcfa
Tsalla Ndzie Virginie    391 104 697Fcfa
Ebokolo Bille Mballa Christine    3 267 000Fcfa
Awuh Salomé Anguh    26 922 864Fcfa
Ngo Bikoko Sophie Chantal    16 412 340Fcfa
Aboto Nnanga Sorelle Venessa     9 952 338Fcfa
Mekong Ngah Anastasie et
Mpito Blende Christiane    70 660 275Fcfa
Mefoung Fils Boyomo
Sébastien and Ndung Kollian         746 037 685Fcfa
Ottou Mboe Christine Sandrine    305 466Fcfa
Bouebe Yves Bertrand    29 053 127Fcfa
Kamwa Tadntse Clarisse    7 068 449Fcfa
Meyo Nkotto Loise    41 648 455Fcfa
Etogo Mbassi Etienne Vicky    70 366 923Fcfa
Abeng Ntyama Jeanne-Marie    125 445Fcfa
Ndzie marie Rosine    7 547 670Fcfa
Baran Assiang Valentine    1 697 994Fcfa
Bissong Manyo Etengeneng    4 175 040Fcfa
Ekosso Ekwelle Gisèle    3 105 083Fcfa
Djabbaram Mai        19 428 728Fcfa
Adjick Mirabelle        11 634 766Fcfa
Amougui Mbede Lucie    7 086 806Fcfa
Mbezele Mbatsogo Anastasie    17 186 549Fcfa