The publisher of a French newspaper, La Tribune de l’Est, Chantal Roger Tuile, has been slammed a two-year jail sentence and a heavy fine to pay by the Yaounde Court of First Instance.
The case, whose verdict was pronounced on Tuesday June 30, found him guilty of defamation against the defendant, present Director General of the Nation Social Insurance Fund, CNPS, Alain Noël Mekulu Mvondo, reportedly a relation to the President of the Republic Paul Biya.
News Upfront gathered that Chantal Roger Tuile has also been banned for life from practicing the profession of journalism. The court case began in 2016.
According to reports gathered from and Non-governmental organisation specializing in the defence of human rights, Mandela Center International, he was transferred to the Central Prison in Kondengui hours after the verdict was announced. He spent the night in the prosecution cell.
At the time of this report, other sources say Tuile is detained at the Yaoundé Prosecution cell and is impatiently awaiting the verdict which will be rendered following the appeal that the council intends to launch on Wednesday July 1, 2020.
The Yaounde Chapter President of the Cameroon National Trade Union of Journalists (SNJC), Thierry Eba’a confirmed the intension of Tuile defence council to appeal the court decision.
The publisher in his July-24-2017 publication, accused the CNPS boss of receiving as salary and colossal advantages which permits him to back home the sum of twenty-three million, four hundred and seventy-five thousand (23,4750,000) FCFA far above the three million, seven hundred and fifty thousands (3,750,000) FCFA hallmark for the post of Director General of CNPS. This is at the expense of retirees’ savings.
In another edition of La Tribune de l’Est, the publisher detailed the allowances as invoices (200,000FCFA), electricity cost telephone-internet-cable (200,000FCFA), fuel cost (900,000FCFA), housing allowance (1,125,000FCFA) amongst others.
In 2017, during a broadcast on Équinoxe TV, Roger Chantal Tuile had made a direct autopsy of the management of Mekoulou Mvondo at the CNPS, brandishing documents to denounce his alleged financial embezzlement.
Following these publications, Mekulu Mvondo had completely refuted the information about his salary by way of press release and complained to the National Communication Council, CNC headed by Peter Esoka.
Keen observers have noticed his disappearance from public space especially from radio and television sets, to which he was regularly invited, for several months.
Tuile had initiated proceedings with the United States embassy in Cameroon to seek for protection and intervention in the matter, News Upfront can confirm.
In the note to the U.S Ambassador, the “La Tribune de L ‘Est” Publisher he said the complainant has filed court actions in 3 towns and accused the magistrates in charge of the cases to have been bought over.
He also saw part of his home and vehicle burnt down and pet killed in the Biyem Assi neighbourhood, in Yaounde.
