Over 30 civil servants and close collaborators of the late former Secretary of State at the Ministry of Secondary Education, Abena Catherine, accused of embezzlement of state funds, will have their fate decided on February 24, 2016, by the Special Criminal Court (SCC).

When the court rounded off hearing of accused persons on February 1, in Yaounde it was evident all the 30 were on their way to Kondengui.

During the court session, the head of the panel of judges hearing the case, Mrs. Justice Tchouatcha Watcha Yvette epouse Siewe, assisted by Mrs. Justice Nsoe and Mrs. Justice Zakiyatou Alioum epouse Dahirou Hayatou pointed out that the evidence against the accused were "so glaring" even though many of them claimed not guilty.

The court ushered the way for the Legal Department to prepare its final submission that will be pronounced on February 24.

During the hearing, the accused persons were given the last chance to defend the charges against them, the misappropriation of public funds or complicity in the embezzlement of public funds. The offences were committed between 2005 and 2006.

The court listened to Rouly Mbila, Eboutou Akono epouse Minlo and Akoa Akoa Nicodeme who all pleaded not guilty of the crime levied against them. The same story was narrated by Mvondo Mvondo Augustin and Embolo épouse Enyegue MarieLouise.

Embolo épouse Enyegue Marie Louise told the court that she did not embezzle some FCFA 11,965,000, which was money meant to execute a building project for the Ministry of Secondary Education.

Mvondo Mvondo Augustin, who was the coordinator of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiatives, HIPC Projects, was accused of embezzling amongst others FCFA 23,400,000 as unduly earned bonuses, FCFA 2,720,000 for fictitious missions, FCFA 4,700,000 as money used not in conformity with the law, FCFA 53,410,000 as money mismanaged in complicity with late Catherine Abena.

After examination, cross-examination and re-examination of Mvondo Mvondo Augustin and Embolo épouse Enyegue Marie Louise, the head of the Panel of Judges. Mrs. Justice Tchouatcha Watcha Yvette epouse Siewe adjourned the case to February 24, 2016, to enable Advocate General Didier Edjisna of the Legal Department to present his final submission.