The absence of one of the defence lawyers yesterday provoked the adjournment.

The Mfoundi High Court in Yaounde has adjourned to Friday August 3, 2012 the hearing of the corruption case against former Health Minister, Titus Edzoa, Michel Thierry Atangana, Dieudonné Mapouna and Isaac Njiemoun.

Announcing the adjournment yesterday, the Presiding Judge, Justice Mrs. Marie Nomo Zanga explained that the absence of Barrister Edou, defence lawyer for Mapouna Isaac was an impediment to the smooth recommencement of the trial. The adjournment decision followed a plea from the State of Cameroon (Civil Party) that the lawyer for one of the accused was not present and constituted a good reason for adjournment.

Titus Edzoa and the three others are charged with attempted embezzlement, complicity in the embezzlement of State funds, corruption and influence peddling. The trial that started in 2009 reached verdict stage last July 18. In the absence of one of the judges, Mrs. Justice Etong, transferred to the Ministry of Justice, the judgment was not delivered for irregular composition of the collegiate. July 30 was fixed for the recommencement of the trial as required by the law. Yesterday, two new judges, Justice Mrs. Mengang and Justice Mrs. Atangana appeared for hearing alongside the Presiding Judge, Justice Mrs. Nomo Zanga to form the new jury.

Meanwhile, the Legal Department submitted that after going through the three-year long trial before the decision to recommence proceedings last July 30, it would be fastidious to recommence proceedings from zero. They proposed that the summaries of requisitions and submissions be taken for the sake of the two new judges who could also refer to the trial notes left by their two departed colleagues to keep abreast with the proceedings. The defence followed the same line of thinking as reason for a consensus by all parties on how proceedings should unroll.