Cameroon: trial begins in the assassination of journalist Martinez Zogo
The highly anticipated trial into the assassination of journalist Martinez Zogo, former director of an urban radio in Yaoundé found dead at the end of January 2023. The body, marked by numerous abuses, was found around twenty kilometers on the outskirts of the capital city. The affair caused immense emotion in Cameroon. 17 people are in the accused box.
In a room at Radio Amplitude FM, in Yaoundé, a portrait of journalist Martinez Zogo was placed to pay tribute to him. AFP - DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO
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With our correspondent in Cameroon,
Polycarpe Essomba
The bulk of the contingent of these accused are agents of the DGRE, the Cameroonian secret services. Some of these agents are being prosecuted for “assassination”. Léopold Maxime Eko Eko, former boss of this unit is also in the dock for “complicity in torture”, as is Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Danwe who was the director of operations until his arrest in the very first days of
the opening of the investigation
in January 2023.
Alongside these accused with a military profile, there are also civilians including the journalist Bruno Bidjang, general director of the media of the Anecdote group and especially his boss, the very controversial businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, who will have to respond, like Maxime Eko Eko of “complicity in torture”.
Arrested almost nine months after the opening of the investigation, Martin Stéphane Savom was, until a few days ago, mayor of the commune of Bibey. He is accused of “complicity in assassination”.
The trial which opens this Monday at the Yaoundé military court will make it possible to establish, or not, the connections between these different individuals and their possible roles in the orchestration, torture and killing of the journalist who was on the airwaves. of Amplitude FM, a slayer of acts of corruption and embezzlement of public funds.
My clients are waiting for justice to finally recognize that Martinez Zogo was murdered and not simply tortured and for everyone's responsibilities to be established.
00:57
Maître Calvin Job, lawyer for Martinez Zogo’s family
Guilhem Fabry
The preliminary investigation and judicial information will have lasted one year. The case consumed 3 investigating judges and experienced numerous twists and turns with obvious attempts at manipulation.
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