T he Court acquitted Steeve NZEGHO DIEKO, while several former officials received sentences ranging from 26 months to 15 years in prison. Financial sanctions reached several billion CFA francs depending on the responsibilities upheld. The lifting of committal orders, house arrests, and asset freezes were ordered for some defendants. Significant reparations were demanded for the benefit of the State. The confiscation of frozen assets concludes an unprecedented judicial decision in scale.

The Special Court has ruled. After months of hearings dedicated to the vast case of money laundering and embezzlement of public funds linked to the former political-administrative system, the magistrates delivered a verdict combining acquittals, heavy sentences, and colossal reparations. The first significant development: Steeve NZEGHO DIEKO, presented as one of the main defendants, was found not guilty of money laundering. His house arrest is lifted, as is the freeze on his assets, marking one of the major reversals in the case.

The rest of the judgment is distinguished by an assumed severity. Gisèle MOMBO, found guilty of money laundering, was sentenced to 26 months in prison accompanied by a fine of 5 million CFA francs, with the lifting of her committal order. Several close collaborators of the former regime received sentences of 15 years in prison, including 5 suspended, as well as a 10 million fine: Yann NGOULOU, Mohamed Aliou Saliou, and Abdul OCENI. Jessy Ella EKOGHA, an emblematic figure in political communication, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, including 7 suspended, along with an identical fine and a committal order.

The sentences continue to vary for the other defendants. Kim OUN, sentenced to 5 years in prison and a 50 million fine, as well as Gabin OTHA, sanctioned with 3 years in prison, including 1 suspended, and a 5 million fine, were both placed under committal orders. Jordan KAMUSET received a more lenient sentence: 3 years suspended and a 5 million fine, accompanied by the lifting of his house arrest. Cyriaque MVOURANDJAMI, sentenced to 26 months in prison, also saw his committal order lifted, as well as the freeze on his assets, but will have to pay a fine of 5 million CFA francs.

The financial reparations assigned by the Court testify to the scale of the sums embezzled according to the prosecution. Among the heaviest : 6 billion CFA francs claimed from Abdul OCENI, 5.2 billion from Mohamed Ali Saliou, 1.2 billion from Yann NGOULOU, and more than a billion from Kim OUN. Other defendants will also have to pay between 10 million and 295 million CFA francs, depending on the responsibilities upheld. All frozen accounts, movable and immovable property of the condemned are also confiscated for the benefit of the State, sealing a verdict that will remain as one of the most significant of the new judicial era underway in the country.