Late Transport Minister Implicated In FCFA 36-Billion Scam

By Joe Dinga Pefok

The ongoing embezzlement case against the former General Manager of Port Authority of Douala, PAD, Alphonse Siyam Siewe, and 11 others has taken yet another amazing turn.

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On August 28-29, the former Prime Minister, Peter Mafany Musonge, and a former Minister of Transport, Tsanga Abanda (RIP), were cited as having been at the forefront of probably the biggest award in a "controversial contract" ever in the history of PAD.

The award is said to involve at least 6 billion Japanese yens (FCFA 36 billion) in a contract to modernise the container terminal at Douala Port. The prosecution team in the embezzlement case led by State Counsel, Amadou Souley, accuses the former General Manager of PAD, Siyam Siewe (also former Minister of Water and Energy), during whose management period (1991-2005), the gigantic colossal contract was awarded as well as executed, of having embezzled FCFA 7 billion.

On the other hand, Siyam and his lawyers strongly reject the charges. They argue that in the first place, the contract for the container terminal project was neither awarded nor paid for by PAD, and thus irrational to accuse the former General Manager for what he never handled.

In a long defence presented on August 28 by Siyam Siewe, following the accusation read out by the presiding judge, Mounyol à Mboussi, the former General Manager who came to court with tons of documents, argued that he was the wrong person to be summoned to answer any charge about the award of the contract for the container terminal or about its financing.

Siyam explained that before he was appointed General Manager of PAD, discussion had been going on between the governments of Cameroon and Japan for the modernisation of the container terminal.

He said the Cameroon government had contacted Japan for a loan to fund the project. Japan had accepted to grant the loan and a convention to that effect was signed.

Japanese Land Contract

In 1999 the then Prime Minister, Peter Mafany Musonge, would sign the document that awarded the contract for the container terminal project to a Japanese company called Mitsue and Co Ltd.

The cost of the contract stood at the equivalent of FCFA 36 billion and it was officially awarded by the Cameroon government and not by PAD, though in reality the government was acting on behalf of PAD. 

It would be recalled that Tsanga Abanda had to travel abroad to sign some of the documents related to the financing of the container terminal. Nonetheless, Siewe explained in court that neither the Cameroon government nor PAD physically touched the loan as the Japanese government directed it straight into the account of Mitsue and Co., out there in Japan.

RAZEL As Sub-contractor

It is reported that Mitsue and CO. split up the contract and gave them out in portions to sub-contractors, with the French construction company, RAZEL, grabbing the biggest chunk which was the most difficult part of the project -  the civil engineering work at the at the Douala Port.

A breakdown of the contract indicated that the Japanese company was paid FCFA 19 billion for the part it gave out to RAZEL. But then during investigations in Douala last year linked to Siewe's tenure at PAD, the team from the Higher State Control in Yaounde, discovered that the Japanese company paid RAZEL FCFA 12 billion and not FCFA 19 billion.

The Japanese company was, therefore, seen to have pocketed as much as FCFA 7 billion out of FCFA 19 billion. Interestingly, the prosecution is considering the FCFA 7 billion as part of the money which the former General Manager allegedly embezzled at PAD.

Stormy Cross-examination

The presiding judge and the prosecution had it difficult with Siyam Siewe during cross-examination. The former PAD Manager who looked angry refused to answer most of the questions on grounds that they either did not make sense or that he was not the right person to be asked.

He insisted that he neither signed the contract for the container terminal project nor was the payment done by PAD.He also insisted that PAD knew but Mitsue and Co as the contractor of the container terminal project and not RAZEL which was a sub-contractor to the Japanese company.

Siyam's lawyers also argued that normally what happens between a contractor and a sub-contractor, especially in financial terms, is not supposed to be the concern of the owner of the project.

A company can get a contract for FCFA 20 million, and give it out to a sub-contractor for FCFA one million, he said. As long as the job is done as initially agreed with the main contractor, there should be no fuss.

They thus, questioned the court's interest in the business of a contractor and a sub-contractor in the container terminal project when none of the parties has complained.
They also recalled that in the preliminary stage of the ongoing case against their client, an authority of the RAZEL had told the court that the company had business with Mitsue and Co, and not with PAD.

The defence lawyers also insisted that the right persons to bring to court to answer questions about the contract and finances should be those who signed the documents, that is former Prime Minister, Mafany Musonge, and the Tsanga Abanda on the one hand, and the main contractor, Mitsue and Co. The lawyers as well fumed that instead of the prosecution inviting Mitsue and Co to court to talk about the FCFA 7 billion, if they were so interested, they are instead holding their client responsible for what he did not know.

Secret Deal?

Observers say from the look of things, the prosecution in the embezzlement case including the Cameroon government, are suspecting that there was a secret deal between Mitsue and Co. and Siyam Siewe as well as some of the Cameroonian officials who were involved in the discussions about the award of the project, for its cost to be inflated.

In such a situation, the Cameroonians involved in the deal were to get their cuts from the Japanese company. The situation looks much more difficult for the prosecution as they look seem unwilling to invite the principal parties that were involved in the FCFA 36 billion contract award to come to court as the defence is insisting.

Comments

[Kumbaboy]

This case is going to collapse and expose commercial inexperience on the prosection side.

Is the prosecution going to sue politicians in Japan who aided Mitsue & Co into the contract in exchange for political contributions? This case is a waste of time.

KB

[simplice]

Please smoke out those thieves from their holes and make justice the matter. We want the likes of Gerald Ondo Ndong to face the light of history during their life time.

[UnitedStatesofAfrica]

Is this news? if they want to hold politicians accountable for corruption then almost all politicians in the Cameroon political scene are going down. Once again, nothing will be done and everything will pass. OPPOSITION IN CAMEROON, WHERE ARE YOU??????????

[Elvovo South Africa]

This is pure nonsense. I strongly believe there is no case here. before we know it, the President will have to come in. My question is what about the other Eleven 11 arrested in Siyams case? they seem to have nothing to say, then keep them there. May they be released pls.

[Ted]

Has one time fomer minister Augustine Kontcho ever been asked to account for the millions that disappeared in a suitcase under his care on a plane to the US? Are they waiting for his death before asking?

[felix]

This is a case of chasing the wind and trying to catch it with bear hands.
The Cameroon justice department needs a very very long way to go before it will come to age.

[andre fokam]

I think the prosecution is right on its approach, we need to know what happened with the 7 billions! After all, the people of Cameroon will have to pay it back (mind you, it was a loan!). even if we cannot get it back, it may help us to improve the way loan and contract are negociated, and may be it may exposed shaddys deal and dealers.

Andre Fokam

[Kumbaboy]

Andre,

Give us a minute. Are you saying 37% is bad profit margin for Mitsue & Co? If you were Chairman of Mitsue & Co, what would you be seeking in negotiations on such a contract?

This case is a waste of time. It is full of vindictiveness against Mr. Siewe forgetting that he did a good job to get cash from Japan to the French to furnish the seaport of Douala.

Had Victoria been made a seaport, in respect of its natural and sand-free harbour, there would be no such loans being channelled to the French to dredge sand off Douala harbour. That is the heart of the matter and it exposes the ignorance of the Francophone political leadership in Cameroon.

KB

[Akoson]

Dearest Southern Cameroonians,

We recovered from China's censorship a week ago. I'm glad to be here again.

Culled from Camnetwork.

Fellow Southern Cameroonians,

The very vocal and active Camnetter Duke Ebogo Titus Ngwa who often corresponds from Clevaland, OHIO was arrested on Thursday August 30th, 2007 at about 4:30 pm in Yaounde, LRC. By Gendarmerie forces of LRC.

Mr Ngwa a Southern Cameroons nationalist was arrested in Melen Yaounde as we both travelled from Buea to Yaounde to coordinate a grouping of Southern Cameroons Youths in Yaounde for a planned visit to the SCNC Head Quaters in Bamenda. In an incident that apparently seem to be a tip-off, Mr Ngwa and I were stopped in a taxi boarded from Mvan and heading for Biyem'Assi in Yaounde. With a SCAPO face cap on and a white T-Shirt carrying the Southern Cameroons Flag with a very conspicuous FRSC boll-faced on the T-shirt, though worn under a Black Jacket, he was forced out of the car and conveyed to only "God alone Knows".

Mr Ngwa is a youth in his mid to late twenties and a graduate from the University of Buea. He lives in Cleveland, USA and has writen about the Southern Cameroons Cause in his publication "Tears of the Destitute: The Southern Cameroons in the hands of LRC". He arrived Buea the Southern Cameroons about a forthnight ago to finalise site arrangement for the shooting of a movie "Inside the Presidency" (Authored by Him and believed to be curled from Biya's Blood Power Lotion). Mr Ngwa is also reputed for coordinating a group of Youths from the Bafut LGA to the SCNC Head Quaters last year for a greater inside education on the Southern Cameroons Cause. He is prominent in his philosophy that the Youths Must Join the struggle for the Restoration of the Southern Cameroons or Bimbia Republic since they are the ones who stand to benefit from it.

By this, I wish to call on the Southern Cameroonians and sympathisers of the Southern Cameroons' Cause to put pressure on the forces of LRC to disclose where he is detained for easy access to legal proceedings.
Thanks

Sone John
+237 75 17 76 82

The SON.

[Akoson]

Dearest Southern Cameroonians,

We recovered from China's censorship a week ago. I'm glad to be here again.

Culled from Camnetwork.

Fellow Southern Cameroonians,

The very vocal and active Camnetter Duke Ebogo Titus Ngwa who often corresponds from Clevaland, OHIO was arrested on Thursday August 30th, 2007 at about 4:30 pm in Yaounde, LRC. By Gendarmerie forces of LRC.

Mr Ngwa a Southern Cameroons nationalist was arrested in Melen Yaounde as we both travelled from Buea to Yaounde to coordinate a grouping of Southern Cameroons Youths in Yaounde for a planned visit to the SCNC Head Quaters in Bamenda. In an incident that apparently seem to be a tip-off, Mr Ngwa and I were stopped in a taxi boarded from Mvan and heading for Biyem'Assi in Yaounde. With a SCAPO face cap on and a white T-Shirt carrying the Southern Cameroons Flag with a very conspicuous FRSC boll-faced on the T-shirt, though worn under a Black Jacket, he was forced out of the car and conveyed to only "God alone Knows".

Mr Ngwa is a youth in his mid to late twenties and a graduate from the University of Buea. He lives in Cleveland, USA and has writen about the Southern Cameroons Cause in his publication "Tears of the Destitute: The Southern Cameroons in the hands of LRC". He arrived Buea the Southern Cameroons about a forthnight ago to finalise site arrangement for the shooting of a movie "Inside the Presidency" (Authored by Him and believed to be curled from Biya's Blood Power Lotion). Mr Ngwa is also reputed for coordinating a group of Youths from the Bafut LGA to the SCNC Head Quaters last year for a greater inside education on the Southern Cameroons Cause. He is prominent in his philosophy that the Youths Must Join the struggle for the Restoration of the Southern Cameroons or Bimbia Republic since they are the ones who stand to benefit from it.

By this, I wish to call on the Southern Cameroonians and sympathisers of the Southern Cameroons' Cause to put pressure on the forces of LRC to disclose where he is detained for easy access to legal proceedings.
Thanks

Sone John
+237 75 17 76 82

The SON.

[Kumbaboy]

Akoson,

Were you VISA'ed to enter LRC proper? Some common sense is needed to avoid falling into LRC's security dragnet. Mr Ngwa must be at a BMM Kondengui underground cell and being tortured.

KB

[Tombele]

I agree with Andre Fokam, this case exposes how far crooks will go to launder stolen money. The prosecution should look into Sewe's finances, at home abroad in Japan, where ever and pressure the remaining witnesses to divulge what they know. It also exposes without doubt or proof positive that these international companies are helping in the underdevelopment of Africa and impoverishing the people. Who would have known that razel and a japanese company were involved. Forensic accounts can now learn where to look in future cases.

[Tombele]

I agree with Andre Fokam, this case exposes how far crooks will go to launder stolen money. The prosecution should look into Sewe's finances, at home abroad in Japan, where ever and pressure the remaining witnesses to divulge what they know. It also exposes without doubt or proof positive that these international companies are helping in the underdevelopment of Africa and impoverishing the people. Who would have known that razel and a japanese company were involved. Forensic accounts can now learn where to look in future cases.