Lawyers in the North West region have staged a public demonstration today in Bamenda. The lawyers traveled from the High Court at Up Station to Finance Junction via Miss Ngeng Junction Sonac Street to City Chemist Round About.

The North West lawyers carried banners protesting the modification of Cameroon’s Penal Code. Their worries included the article on tenants. The new law stipulates that if a tenant owes a Land Lord two months’ rent, he can spend from 6 month’s to 3 years in prison. The North West lawyers say it is a penal code for the rich against the poor.

Cham Victor Bama (Cameroon Concord News Group)

The Minister of Arts and Culture, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi has held intensive and productive discussions with the Ambassador of Israel to Cameroon, Ran Gidor.

The Israeli diplomat was at the Ministry of Arts and Culture to discuss cultural and artistic exchanges between Cameroon and the state of Israel. Ran Gidor hailed Cameroon for its rich culture especially its music.

The Ambassador indicated his country’s willingness to corporate with Cameroon. Ambassador Ran Gidor hinted that Israeli artists were interested in taking part in the International Arts and Culture Festival to be organized in Cameroon in November 2016.

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The Special Criminal Court has finally sentenced former Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic, Jean Marie Atangana Mebara to 25 years in prison. The President Biya acolyte was charged for embezzlement in June 2003 in the now famous Albatross affair that involved 5 million US dollars (2,905,500,000 CFA) for the purchase of the presidential plane.

State prosecutors stated in the indictment that “rather than continuing the process of buying a new aircraft engaged a few years earlier, Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara oriented spending this bonanza to lease a used aircraft (L ‘ Albatross)”.  The former secretary general at the presidency said he acted on instructions from the Head of State. The sentence is in addition to other two charges where he received 15 and 20 years respectively for embezzlement.

Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a High Court in the Centre region. In October 2013, he was again sentenced to 20 years in prison for embezzlement of 1.7 billion CFA francs in the payment of rent arrears by the defunct airline company Cameroon Airlines. Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara is currently being held at the Kondengui Central prison in Yaoundé since August 6, 2008.

Rita Akana (CIR)

Disgraced former general manager of the Cameroon radio and television CRTV, Gervais Mendo Ze has been doing what he does best at the Kondengui High security prison in Yaounde. Among the 52 former barons of the regime imprisoned for corruption and embezzlement, Gervais Mendo Ze is reportedly living a simple Christian life and giving well researched lectures on Mary the Mother of Jesus.

Arrested since May 12, 2014, Mendo Ze has become one of the most popular and most loved personalities humiliated by the CPDM regime. Sources close to the university don say he is open to all who come to meet him and share a word of prayer. Cameroon Intelligence Report gathered that he has become a Rabbi at the Kondengui prison, teaching inmates the need to be responsible citizens.

The Associate Professor of Linguistics and founder of the choir “La Voix du Cenacle,” Gervais Mendo Ze often organize his prison conferences with thoughtful themes. He also organizes religious concerts. Cameroon Concord News Group had declared him and former Prime Minister Chief Inoni as political prisoners.

Sama Ernest with files from Cameroon-info.net

The bill amending the Cameroonian penal code that was adopted in the National Assembly on Saturday has generated angry protest in the nation’s capital Yaounde. Cameroonian MPs of the ruling CPDM party adopted the new penal code which contains 372 items. Cameroon Intelligence Report understands the controversial text is now before the Senate where it should be adopted today Wednesday by the Upper House dominated by Senators from the ruling party.

The so called new Cameroonian penal code has been the subject of intense debate within the national territory. The Bar Association of Cameroon and opposition parties have challenged the document and asked for a consensus text. In response, the Government indicated that a consensus had been found around the new penal code.

The Department of Justice and other defenders of the new penal code have specified that the text was drafted with the participation and the involvement of different actors including legal practitioners: Lawyers, notaries, bailiffs, law teachers, traditional leaders, members of civil society and political party leaders-a position that has been rejected out rightly by the Vice Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Joseph Mbah Ndam.

Some experts have opined that the 50 years old Cameroonian penal code was badly in need of some modifications. Our source at the Ministry of Justice hinted the new Penal Code is a long process where Cameroon has integrated the laws coming from international agreements.

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai (CIR)

A hue and cry has erupted in the South West region following a five days sensitization workshop organized by the National Anti-corruption commission that held in Buea. A visibly angered South West region governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai has requested the CONAC chair to set examples on regional delegates who boycotted the atelier.

Governor Okalia revealed that by staying away from the anti corruption workshop, the regional delegates demonstrated gross disrespect for the national body. The CPDM governor called on the Chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, CONAC, to file in names of the delegates who boycotted to their bosses in Yaounde.

In his address during the conference the governor noted that “The attendance itself significantly gives you the state of corruption in the South West region. Those who are absent, mainly the regional delegates’ best know why they are shying away from a forum like this”.

The anti corruption seminar that held at the Buea Council Hall was scantily attended despite the heavy publicity from the governor’s office.  The few panicky delegates in attendance were visibly spotted making hidden chats with CONAC officials enough to prove that a guilty mind need no accuser before its brought to books.

The five days regional workshop to evaluate the action plan for the fight against corruption in the South West region provided a rare opportunity for Mayor Ekema Patrick of Buea to salute the relentless fight by Rev Dr. Dieudonne Massi Gams to blaze the trail in combating corruption. According to the Chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Rev Dr. Diuedonne Massi Gams, the workshop was to assess the regional plan of action for the fight against corruption in the South West.

Cham Victor Bama (CIR)

Following the appointments in the Police Force by President Paul Biya on January 28, 2014, instructions were issued to the officers by the high command on boosting efficiency and fighting crime. Some 27 months on, the General Delegation for National Security, summoned a meeting of police officials from headquarters and the regions to assess the implementation of the directives.

Addressing officers at the National Advanced Police College, Tsinga, Yaounde, on June 21, 2016, the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele, said the stocktaking exercise will enable the high command to proffer solutions on the way forward. He recalled that some of the 2014 directives included the strict enforcement of discipline, closer monitoring of field activities, the obligatory putting-on of uniforms with name and rank tags as well as the enhanced protection of State institutions.

Commanders were also warned to beware of untoward conduct by their officers, men and women; and were directed to carry out regular field inspections. Similarly, they were expected to draw up security plans for each town, watch out for cases of absenteeism and revive regional police disciplinary councils. Martin Mbarga Nguele also spoke of plans to create police morgues and efforts to step up the fight against cross-border crime.

The meeting with senior police officials was later followed in the afternoon by the distribution of liaison and intervention vehicles to some officers and regional stations. These included 70 pick-up vans, two Toyota Yaris cars, 7 Toyota Fortuner jeeps, 4 Toyota Hiace mini-buses, 11 Toyota Corolla XL salon cars, 21 Toyota Rv 4 jeeps and one Toyota Prado jeep.

Cameroon Tribune

The National Assembly has authorized President Biya to ratify the agreement on the mutual exemption of visas between Italy and Cameroon. The MPs made the decision today in Yaounde, the nation’s political capital. The law on the mutual exemption of visas for holders of diplomatic passport and service between Cameroon and Italy provides for two situations.

Cameroon Intelligence Report understands the case of nationals of States not party accredited in the territory of the other party. They will enter the territory of any State, transit through and stay without a visa for a residence time not exceeding 90 days over a period of 180 days. Then there is the case of diplomatic personnel or consular agents. This category will have to obtain a visa for accreditation. With the present agreement, they will subsequently be exempted from visa.

However, beneficiaries of the agreement are obliged to borrow the border points open to international traffic, and respect the law of the host State. The law on mutual exemption follows the agreement signed between Italy and Cameroon in March, during the visit of Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Rita Akana (CIR)

Albatross, Taxation and Fraud 

1-Emmanuel Gérard Ondo Ndong

2-Gilles Roger Belinga

3-Colonel Etonde Ekotto

4-Me Lydienne Yen Eyoum

5-Urbain Olanguena Awono

6-Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara

7-Marafa Hamidou Yaya

8-Yves Michel Fotso

9-Haman Adama

10-Michel Thierry Atangana

11-Louis Bapès Bapès

12-Polycarpe Abah Abah

13-Alphonse Siyam Siwe

14-Paulin Abono Moapand

15-Bouba Daïrou

16-Gervais Mendo Ze

17-François Vilon

18-Joseph André Eyebe Eyebe

19-Hubert Bessala

20-Ngoun

21-Louis Roger Doumana

22-Ousmanou Issa

23-Manboh Nathalie Nsoh

24-George Mokum

25-Inoni Ephraïm

A-     Crédit Foncier Affair

1-Edou Joseph
2-Essama Zoh Gervais Manial
3-Bama Michel
4-BEMA Emmanuel
5-Meke Raphaël
6-Koh Koh
7-Lentieu Nguemienti Ernest
8-Biabi Épouse Foumena Georgette
10-Mintanguele Alexis
11-Moussio Mouelle

B –   SIC Affair
12-Belinga Gilles Roger
13-Amougou Jules Martin
14-Ateba Enobo Jeanne Marie
15-Nama Tsimi Patrice
16-Ossombo Bidiang Dieudonné
17-Soppo François Roger
18-Mvondo David Elizier
19-Ndoe Essono Martial
20-Madawe Njike Née Ngandjeu
21-Ndengue Edmond Mane
22-Nnanga Nnanga
23-Okassie Amboulou
24-Souleymanou Aladji Oumarou
25-Leuze Dieudonné
26-Ayissi Tsala
27-Etoundi Epouse Endomo Lucie
28-Messy Claude Bernard Modeste
29-Tchombe Sylvain Marie
30-Mme Njike Née Ngandjeu Annie Chantal
31-Eyebe Lebogo Paul
32-Ngoune Bebe Charles Félix
C-  Feicom Affair

33-Ondo Ndong Emmanuel Gérard
34-Bitye Bi Elanga Roseline Bertille
35-Mbela Moise
36-Dika Ndongo Martine Béatrice
37-Tchuente Nantchueng Dieudonné
38-Ndjomo Nomo Wenceslas
39-Ndzeng Atangana André
40-Nguema Ondo Dieudonne
41-Bessala Nsana Jean
42-Ketchami Charles
43-Ngo Bayanack Laurentine
44-Edjang Marie Carine
45-Ombala Née Noviaya
46-Mibe Célestin Jean Pierre
47-Medjo Edmond
48-Elessa Soppo Suzanne Grâce
49-Abessolo Eyi René
50-Okomesse Luc Albert
51-Ze Abel Ruben
52-Ndode Gremiath Ebong

Culled from Cameroon-info.net

Five people have died following the collapse of a poorly constructed building in the Ndokoti Neighbourhood in Douala. The incident occurred on Saturday 18th June 2016 at 8am after a heavy down pour. After the collapse of the building, two lifeless bodies were discovered at 8am, one of them identified as Bassong Tchekam Alain Zacharie 41 year old man who was residing close to the construction site.

Later on in the afternoon, three others were found. But it is obvious that the death toll might increase onlookers indicate that tens of people were in the uncomplete building that had a drinking spot on its ground floor. The Littoral Governor Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua and some security officers visited the site of the incident where they noticed that the building was poorly constructed with low quality building material. While the remains were taken to the Logbaba Hospital Mortuary, the owner of the construction site is presently under Gendarmerie custody pending investigations.

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