Serge Abouem Trial: Arguments Rage Over Who Is Civil Claimant

Lawyers for the President of the Cameroon Volleyball Federation argue that only the Ministry of Finance should be admitted as civil claimant.

The trial resumed at the Yaounde Special Criminal Court, SCC, on Monday, October 31, 2016, of Abouem à Boull Serge Julien, 45, a Treasury Inspector and President of the Cameroon Volleyball Federation. He is charged with embezzling public funds worth 106 Million FCFA in 2014. The matter was heard by Mr. Justice Nyoh Matthias, with Mr. Justice Taghim Jean Claude as Advocate General.  

In 2014, the female and male national volleyball teams were to participate in world championships in Italy and Poland. Fearing that delays in disbursement of public funds might hamper Cameroon’s participation in the tournaments, Abouem à Boull Serge Julien sought and got the consent of the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education for a pre-financing deal with Groupe Emergence. The group later disbursed 178 Million FCFA, which was to be reimbursed by the Volleyball Federation upon the payment of the State subvention. Serge Abouem never paid back the money even after the Ministry of Finance had paid the subvention.

At Monday’s hearing, Barrister Hon. Sonké Benjamin, counsel for Serge Abouem, argued that the only recognised civil claimant was the Ministry of Finance. “The Special Criminal Court was created to handle the embezzlement of public funds. I was rapporteur for the National Assembly Committee that studied the bill creating the court. This court is not where anyone can present themselves as civil claimants. Such litigants should go to the High Court,” emphasised Barrister Sonké to Cameroon Tribune afterwards. He was supported in this position by his colleague, Barrister Nyibia Joseph.

“We have evidence that lawyers for Groupe Emergence already took the matter to the Mfoundi High Court both as civil claimants and also in the penal cause, but all suits were dismissed. In due course, we will raise the ru...