Yaounde: Martin Savom Appears in Military Tribunal Over High-Level Fraud and Corruption Case

The Military Tribunal in Yaoundé is set to hear testimony from Martin Stephane Savom, former mayor of Bibey, in connection with the high-profile "Fake Documents" case involving Admiral Joseph Fouda, a special advisor to President Paul Biya.

This case has seen rapid developments, with seven individuals already charged with various offenses, including impersonation, fraud, state security violations, corruption, and possession of illegal items such as military gear and counterfeit currency.

Martin Savom, currently incarcerated in Kondengui prison, has been identified by military investigators as the mastermind behind the assassination of journalist Martinez Zogo. His appearance at the Military Tribunal today has drawn significant attention, although his exact role in the ongoing "Fake Documents" investigation remains unclear.

The case initially came to light following a complaint by Admiral Joseph Fouda, which was soon joined by Jean Gakam, a prominent banker from Afriland First Bank. Gakam alleged that he had also fallen victim to an elaborate fraud scheme, promising high-level protection involving figures from the Presidency, including First Lady Chantal Biya.

Savom, who had boasted of his connections to influential figures such as Secretary-General Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh and other high-ranking officials in the Presidential Security Directorate, is said to have exploited these ties to receive large sums of money from Gakam. The fraud reportedly amounted to hundreds of millions of CFA francs and included business ventures in Nanga-Eboko.

Further complicating the case is the involvement of retired Lieutenant Colonel Atangana Avom Jean, who is both a security associate of Gakam and a close relative of Savom. Atangana is alleged to have acted as an intermediary between Gakam and Admiral Fouda, using his family ties to facilitate the fraudulent activities.

The military tribunal is expected to probe Savom for further details, and several senior officers are also scheduled to testify. This trial continues to uncover a network of high-level corruption and complicity, implicating powerful individuals in both military and political circles. The outcome of this investigation could have far-reaching implications for the political landscape of Cameroon.