Lukong Pius Nyuylime
2 April 2008
The two former members of government arrested last Monday spent the second day at the Yaounde Judicial Police Station.
Uneasy calm reigned at the Yaounde Judicial Police Station yesterday, one day after the arrest of two former Ministers, Polycarpe Abah Abah of the Economy and Finance and Urbain Olanguena Awono of Public Health. The tight security at the entrance to the station where the main door remained closed and visitors scrupulously screened before entry into the building, was evidence that something unusual was still going on.
In effect, the two members of government were busy responding to questions from the police. According to one of the lawyers of Polycarpe Abah Abah, Barrister Jean Calvin Bilong, interrogation of the former minister of the Economy and Finance began around midday and ended at 3:30 pm prior to the correction and signing by Abah Abah of his own statements.
The same scenario went on with the former minister of Public Health, Urbain Olanguena Awono who went through the police scanner in the presence of barrister Antoine Mong.
The two suspects were equally compelled to assist the police at their residences at Odza for Polycarpe Abah Abah and Emana for Urbain Olanguena Awono, in what their lawyers referred to as "inventory". In effect, it was part of the whole process of investigation.
Arrested from their respective homes in the early hours of Monday, the two former ministers and other top ranking officials amongst which were, Luc Etogo Mbezele, former Pay Master General at the Yaounde Central Treasury and Dr Feuzeu Maurice, Permanent Secretary at the National AIDS Committee, were immediately taken to the Judicial Police Station for detention. The suspects were arraigned within the framework of the "Operation Sparrow Hawk" initiated by government to track down swindlers of State funds. The Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Amadou Ali, announced last weekend at the National Assembly that close to 20 files within the operation are currently being examined.
What Next?
According to Barrister Charles Nguini, President of Transparency, Cameroon, it is difficult to say with precision who has summoned these people but Monday's arrests fall within the precinct of preliminary judicial police investigation. "Once the judicial police consider they have been sufficiently informed about the case, the files of the various suspects will be transmitted to the State Counsel", Nguini told Cameroon Tribune. "Everyone is saying that they have been arrested, whereas they have simply been called up to help the police in the investigation", he said. At this stage, everything is in the hands of the State Counsel who will, if necessary, place them at the disposal of the judiciary where the case enters another stage of interrogation.
Is it possible that the suspects be freed, was Cameroon Tribune's question to the barrister. "Sure! The suspects are considered innocent until they are proven guilty", he said. In his capacity as an authority of the Transparency International, Barrister Charles Nguini heralded the present move by government. "It is time to put an end to amassing of wealth at the expense of state funds", he declared. According to the man of law, the legal sector needs to be given the necessary means to carryout its duty to the end. "The judiciary needs a political decision to enable it go beyond simple arrests", he said. This, he stated, will permit them to recover the finances required.
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