Cameroon issues arrest warrant for former Finance Minister, Essimi Menye

The former minister is prosecuted for complicity in embezzlement of public funds of nearly 1.8 billion FCFA

Essimi Menye is now sought after. An arrest warrant has been issued against the former Minister of Finance and Agriculture and Rural Development by the Special Criminal Court (TCS). He is prosecuted for complicity in embezzlement of public funds in the amount of F CFA 1,756,570,380. 

The TCS accuses the former national financier of having paid this money without consideration to the Cabinet Challenger Corporation belonging to Tchakui François. Facts going back to 2008-2012 when the native of the Lekie division in the Centre region was still at the Ministry of Finance.

The arrest warrant was issued on 14 March 2017 by the investigating judge, Justice Blaise Wo'o Minko. The document instructs any judicial officer or police officer to summon and present Essimi Menye to the Kondengui Central Prison.

Problem, the concerned  is  not in Cameroon. Dismissed from the government on 2 October 2015, Essimi Menye left the country a few months later thanks to a medical evacuation. The former minister has since recovered  and lives in the United States.  It is not the first time the senior finance expert has been issued an arrest warrant.