Kohtem's Witnesses Protest Bail For Fon Doh

By Peterkins Manyong

Three prosecution witnesses who testified against Fon Doh Gwanyin and 11 others in the Kohtem murder trial have protested against moves to secure bail for the convict. The protest is contained in a letter titled "Bail of Convicted Fon Doh and Continuous Threats on Our (Prosecution Witnesses) Lives by His Children and Thugs."

The compliant, addressed to the President of the Court of Appeal, states that Fon Doh's release on bail would "ignite catastrophic consequences in Balikumbat."

The writers of the complaint, Godfrey Duma, James Yega and Clement Kohta, recalled that they were eyewitnesses to Kohtem's murder and acted as prosecution witnesses in the trial.

After the verdict of the Ndop High Court, the complaint states, Fon Doh's children went on the rampage "and caused untold destruction on the houses of some SDF militants in Balikumbat, injuring their owners in the process."

On Thursday, May 4, it reads on, the thugs again attacked SDF supporters at Small Market, Balikumbat. On that same occasion, the witnesses attest that the thugs claimed they have bribed the judges of the Appeal Court and that Fon Doh would be released unfailingly on Tuesday, May 16.

"They threatened and warned us to start packing our property to leave Balikumbat village before Fon Doh arrives on May 16," says the letter.The letter quoted the thugs as saying they would not spare the three judges that convicted Fon Doh.

The names of the thugs are given as follows: Francis Lapmi, Godfrey Dakogha, Geraldine Samyitbe and Veronica Lajong. The prosecution witnesses urged the Court of Appeal not to grant bail because it would not only be endangering the lives of all those who testified against Fon Doh, but also those of people Fon Doh suspects contributed in sending him to jail.

Reacting to the bail issue, Dr. Pius Lecigah, SDF District Chairman of Balikumbat, said he was sure the learned judges of the Northwest Court of Appeal would not do anything that could damage the positive image given the judiciary by the Ndop High Court judgment.

Dr. Julius Ngepa, another Balikumbat SDF official, told The Post that releasing Fon Doh on bail would not only jeopardise the peace now reigning in Balikumbat but that he could escape and plunge those signing the bail document into a mess.

Walters Mudoh, Intervention Officer for Human Rights Defence Group, HRDG, recalled a complaint compiled against Fon Doh by late Albert Mukong portraying the Fon as a threat not only to Balikumbat people, but also to neighbouring villages.

Lawyer Ben Suh Fuh, President of the Bamenda Young Lawyers Association, BAYOLA, outlined several reasons why bail is normally granted. These include the poor health situation of the person being granted bail, whether the convict would not jump bail, the length of the imprisonment term and the nature of the matter on which the bail is being granted.

His said Fon Doh did not deserve bail following a close examination of these factors.

Comments

[BenB]

Someone here says Ngwasiri and his group have
committed political suicide; that after the
convention(s), they’ll be erased from the Cameroon political map. Possible. They’re on a suicide mission and I believe they know, more than anyone else. And we know of course, that people on suicide mission leave
nothing to chance. It’s either they make it or they fail woefully.

Ngwasiri’s group may, therefore, be putting in everything to succeed. They surely know the price to pay (their political career) would be worth the cause they would be sacrificing for. So, if they failed, the
consequences may only be regretted.

Now, only a fool would contend with the imminent death of suicide fighters (in this case the expected political death of Ngwasiri and Muna) instead of taking measures to avert the probable damage.

Except, like the wicked woman in the King Solomon story, the Chairman would contend with a bloody piece of a supposedly beloved child (the SDF), even if Ngwasiri cut off only one precious arm. And what if
the child were to be cut in the middle?

Which is why I continue saying that, even
one-and-a-half or one-and-one-quarter conventions will make 16 years of blood and suffering wasted years for SDF militants. The leaders won’t have any regrets. Some of them have already reaped enough. To them the
people can go to hell.

Someone, please bring those fighting elephants together. We have less that 11 days to go.

Cardinal Tumi, please!

BenF

[Tayong(Copenhagen)]

Tempers flar and tension mounts

Which way forward guys? There is tension mounting in Kumba, Limbe,Kumbo,Mutemgene,Bamenda. anglophones tempers are hanging in short circuits in Bamenda as may 20 draw nigh also orchestrated by the continous arrest and detention of anglophones in their own land for venturing to demand for what belongs to them.

Repression is the oder of the day. These and other events are dragging many to extremes . Others are already advocating for a military option should the regime continue its brutal policy towards the population. Others want restrain at least for the maintime, others want peaceful negociation to the issue , others want a dialogue with the regime that be for a return to the federal states , etc

The question we are asking all anglophones in this forum is this? Which way forward? What (and why) will u say? As an anglophone your opinion counts. Francophones in this forum pls keep off.

Tayong

[rexon]

It is only the very murderous colonialist, La Republique Francaise Du cameroun that knows what the outcome of this case will look like. They are playing with words, actions, etc. They will finally decide to either pretentiously jail the guy (while he will be sleeping in a hotel), or claim he is publicly innocent.

La republique, what a shame??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

[GEORGE]

Hey , did any of you read this article before commenting?. i SAY SO BECAUSE YOUR COMMENTS ARE NOT RELATED TO THE ARTICLE. lETS LEARN TO DO THINGS RIGHT, IF NOT THEN WE CANT EVEN FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS COS WE WILL ALSO ABUSE THOSE RIGHTS

[Dr. Peter Aka]

The decision on whether or not to release Fon Doh on bail will be made public on the 13th of June 2006. Watch out!

[Henry Alex]

I hate reading about articles relating to this murderer.He should be granted a bail,jungle justice await her.Take it as a threat.Bull Shit.Makes me really annoyed

[Henry Alex]

correction
Jungle justice await him

[dicko]

correction
Jungle justice awaits him