Yaoundé Military Court Rejects Defense Requests in High-Profile Trial

On November 11, 2024, the Yaoundé Military Court dismissed all exceptions raised by the defense during a brief hearing, effectively preserving the course of this sensitive trial, which involves several prominent figures.

Defense Requests Rejected in Their Entirety

The panel, presided over by Colonel Missé Njonè, systematically rejected all motions submitted by the defense. Notably, the court deemed the request for a reconstruction of the facts, put forward by the defense team of businessman Amougou Belinga, as premature. Similarly, a request to exclude certain documents from the investigation file was also rejected.

2013 Order Dismissed

The judges also dismissed the defense's request to apply the referral order from December 1, 2013, which would have paved the way for the release of Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga and Léopold Maxime Eko Eko, the former director of the General Directorate for External Research (DGRE). Additionally, the motion to reclassify the charges for certain defendants was considered unfounded.

DGRE Maintained as Civilly Liable

One crucial aspect of the hearing was the court's reaffirmation that the DGRE, Cameroon’s intelligence agency, will remain civilly liable for the assassination of journalist [name], despite repeated attempts by the agency to evade responsibility since the trial commenced in March.

The next phase of this high-profile trial is scheduled for December 2, when the substantive debates are expected to begin, a development eagerly anticipated by the parties involved.