Jail sentences of previously convicted 'suicide embezzlers' are being reduced, on condition that they pay back a greater chunk of the money embezzled. The latest case is the ruling by the Appeal court on the Ondo Ndong case. We had earlier suggested such a move but criticism poured in tagging us as 'sympathizing with the regime and embezzlers'.(read: 'Suicide Embezzlers' below) The idea was to emphasize the better option of reclaiming the people's money from these bandits. The latest move by the regime to pursue this option was not unexpected. The recent civil servants' salary adjustments ,while ignoring this year's budget with regards to expenditure and revenue was precipitated as far as this regime is concern, in order to manipulate the constitution to allow Biya to rule till death. Now the regime is going back into its embezzlement reserves to foot its bills-the salary adjustments. Billions are needed. The embezzled money has to be recovered-those hoarded by those embezzlers still enjoying illegitimate liberty, as well as, those patronizing the prison premises of Kondengui.The question is: Who will manage the recovered funds, if ever they are recovered?? These same thieves??
Jail term for Ondo Ndong and Co. reduced
The Appeal Court in Yaounde has revised this ruling. According to yesterday’s verdict, the former General Manager of FEICOM shall serve a twenty year jail term instead of the initial fifty years. Jail terms for his co-accusers have also been reduced.
The reduction is however, accompanied by a clause; from the initial three billion five hundred thousands francs to be paid as damages, the culprits shall now be required to pay twenty six billion franc CFA.
It is also important to state that Edjang Marie Carine, Ngo Bayanag, Etoga Marie–Gabriel that were earlier acquitted have now been found guilty of complicity in the embezzlement of state funds.
Some property of Ondo Ndong that had been confiscated by the court where returned. According to the presiding judge, these possessions were returned on grounds that they were acquired before the act of embezzlement was committed.
The current ruling seem have been guided by popular opinion; a good percentage of the Cameroonian population prefer to have the embezzled money refunded than to have convicted embezzlers serve long jail terms with the money in their possession.
The Ondo Ndong affair is one of the high profiled cases in recent times. Observers say the convictions seem to demonstrate President Paul Biya’s determination to fight embezzlement and corruption in Cameroon.
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