Post-strike arrest: 729 people jailed in Cameroon, 157 still on trial, and 466 on appeal

Amadou Ali, Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seal, of the Republic of Cameroon has revealed that of the over 1600 persons arrested during the February 24 to 29 social unrest in the country, 729 of them have been tried and sentenced to serve various prison terms ranging from three months to six years.

Speaking during a press conference which took place at the nation’s capital, Yaounde, the Justice Minister made it clear that of the 1671 individuals arrested nationwide, 199 were released in the West province by a decision of the local administration, 256 set free by the courts while 470 others who have been found guilty have appealed against the decision. Contrary to popular out cry that the victims most of whom were innocent did not have a fare trial, Amadou Ali assured
that the trials were being done under the strict respect of the law.

Meanwhile youths and some politicians who have been targeted as being at the origin of the wanton destruction that took place during the strike had gone underground. They are said to be escaping from security operatives who have intensified the search of those alleged to have been actively involved in the destruction of property. A couple of weeks ago Hon.
Nicheau, of the Social Democratic Front Party (SDF), was blocked at the Douala International airport, in an attempt to travel abroad.

During the unrest, furious youths in Bonaberi destroyed fuel stations, rampaging and looting shops. They were stopped at the Bonaberi Bridge on their way to Banonjo on grounds that they wanted to meet the Governor of the province Fai Yengo Francis. Trapped on the bridge most of them were arrested while others jumped into the river for safety. In a nationwide statement, the president of the Republic, Paul Biya, blamed politicians for manipulating the youths in order to reap political gains. He warned that their plans were doomed to failure as he would use all legal means available to ensure the rule of law. Biya’s threat became real as Courts held urgent sessions passing a number of summary judgments on youths arrested by the security
during the social action. During a press conference in Yaounde, a few days after
the strike the Vice prime minister, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Amadou Ali, disclosed that of 1671 arrests made across the country, 671 came from the Littoral province. He said the arrests were made following instructions given out to judicial police officers by the state prosecutors, by virtue of Article 103 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Consequently some Courts in the various jurisdictions held in-camera summary session to try those arrested

In Douala, two people received sentences ranging from seven months to one year at the Douala-Bonanjo Court of First Instance. The same court acquitted 22 arrested suspects. In the Douala-Ndokoti Court in the same city 48 persons received prison sentences between six months two years while 17 were acquitted. In Nkongsamba, of the nine persons brought before the
court, two were acquitted; six sentenced to prison terms between four and 16 months while one case is pending. In neighboring Mbanga, the six arrested persons were each sentenced to 18 months in prison. In Limbe in the South West province, two of the six persons brought before the Court of First Instance were acquitted while four received sentences of six to eight months. In Tombel, three people appeared before the court. One was acquitted while two others were
fined CFA 50.000 frs or an imprisonment term of six months.

Meanwhile, armed security operatives still roam the streets of the main cities, especially Douala and Yaounde in search of the alleged perpetrators of acts of vandalism during the strike.
Parents who have not been able to trace their children after the strike are in a state of total bewilderment as to whether they are dead, alive, or locked up in one of the cells or prisons while awaiting trial. Mrs Wambo Madalene, of Ndogpassi, Douala, for example was lucky to find her son alive though locked up in the Bonnajo Judicial police cell. This situation of families seeking to have concrete information about their arrested offspring has been an embarrassment
even to the administration.

It is alleged that some of those recorded as arrested were released by some government officials without authorization, a situation that has created confusion on the check-list of those declared dead, arrested and detained. Amadou Ali said investigations were still underway in Buea, Tiko, Bamenda, Kumbo, Kumba, Dschang and Bafang. ‘Bush Faller’ Jailed Amongst Riot suspect
Meanwhile, Nkeng Thaddeus, a Cameroonian living abroad commonly referred to as ‘bush faller’ who was in Cameroon to prepare for the funeral celebration of his late father will have to spend one year at the Kumba principal prison before ‘falling bush’. Nkeng Thaddeus was jailed amongst nine others as they were found guilty as charged by the Kumba court of first instance for having committed offences contrary to and punishable under the Cameroonian Penal code. Nkeng and
the others, the court declared, were found with crates of beer and other valuables from less Brassieres du Cameroun and Transformation Reef Cameroon (TRC) during the recent strike that was characterized by looting, vandalism and destruction.

Though the state prosecutor Florence Nzene had called on the court to give maximum sentences with hard labour in order to deter looting and vandalism in future, the presiding magistrate, Maire Asong, tempered justice with mercy as pleaded by the defense lawyers, finding Pascal Ayuk Marnus Mbah, Thaddeus Nkeng, Augustine Nkeng, Patrick Tabe, Kamga, Philimon Nkemasong and Emile Forgwe guilty. They will serve an imprisonment terms ranging from 3 months to 1 year.