Cameroon's War on Corruption: The Trial of former Public Works Minister Dieudonne Ambassa Zang enters its decisive phase

The trial of the former Minister of Public Works Dieudonné Ambassa Zang entered the examination of witnesses phase on Wednesday 28 January at the Special Criminal Court in Yaoundé. The former Minister of Public Works and his co-defendants are alleged to have embezzled over 5,820,645,438 Billion CFA in the award of contracts. Dieudonne Ambassa Zang who was sacked by President Biya and his parliamentary immunity lifted for possible prosecution successfully escaped to France since 2010.

On Wednesday, the co-defendants in the trial began bringing clarification on what they are charged. Bikié Scholastica Henriette Simone who was Deputy Director of Personnel and Salaries at the time was charged for diversion of state funds between 2005 and 2006 amounting to 28,952,000 FCFA and 7,672,660 FCFA respectively.  The second accused Thierry Amougui was the Financial Controller of the Budget Directorate. The Special Criminal Court also did interrogate Serges Abouem of the General Directorate of the Treasury. The case was postponed to February 6th when another witness and co-accused, Mengué Meka Raphael will be examined by the prosecutor of the court. Cameroon Concord is asking anyone who finds former Minister Dieudonne Ambassa Zang in France to kindly inform him of the necessity to return back to Cameroon and clear his name in front of the judges of the Special Criminal Court.Failure to do so by February 6th, Cameroon Concord will go ahead and put up an obituary announcement on him.