The likes of Mamadou Yakouba Mota, 1st Vice President Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) detained in Yaoundé since 2019 and other MRC leaders, allies, militants, and sympathisers arrested in line with the white marches of January 26, June 1 and June 8, 2019 will not benefit from the presidential decision.
Also, Mancho Bibixy Tse, leader of the Coffin Revolution of November 21, 2016 in Bamenda, currently serving a 15-year jail term at the Yaoundé Central Prison, is not affected by Wednesday’s decree.
A similar fate is shared by Julius Ayuk Tabe, Cornelius Kwanga, Dr Egbe Orock, Barrister Eyambe Ebai, Dr. Fidelis Nde Che, Dr. Kimeng Henry, Dr. Nfor Ngala Nfor, Prof. Augustine Awasum, Barrister Shufai Blaise and Tassang Wilfred serving a life sentence at the Yaoundé Principal Prison on charges relating to the security of the state.
Although decree no. 2020/193 of April 15, 2020 to commute and remit sentences specifies that only those whose sentences have become final will benefit, it however makes certain exceptions.
The decree shall not apply to: fugitives at the date of signature of the decree, recidivist offenders, and persons imprisoned and sentenced for an offence committed while in detention.
Those sentenced for the following other offences shall not benefit from Wednesday’s decree to commute and remit the sentences: security of the state; offences of chapter II of Law no. 2014/028 of 23 rd December 2014 on the suppression of acts of terrorism; misappropriation of public property; corruption, indulgence (undue demand), favor, procuring favoritism, influence, interest in grant; undue influence and undue demand, counterfeit note and coin; customs or tax fraud; fraud in official and other examinations; fraudulent export of currency; illegal possession and trafficking of toxic waste; illegal possession and trafficking of narcotic; breaches against legislation on arms; breaches against forestry legislation; torture; torture; rape, sexual assault, pedophilia.
President Biya’s decree is seen as an attempt to decongest prisons as the country battles to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus which has recorded no few than 830 positive cases, over a dozen deaths and about 150 recoveries.
IAO