Cintia A. , Lebledparle.com
According to his counsel, Lawyer Hippolyte Meli who gave clarification on the issue, thé session began by the 9am with the military examining magistrate no 1, who received them .
A new appointment
Following discussions on the procedure a new hearing date scheduled for 28 January has been agreed upon, which is to ensure compliance to the Code of Criminal Procedure. According to his Lawyer, Me Richard Tamfu has not yet been charged officially and the accusations against him are still unclear. His Lawyer Hippolyte Meli stated ” it is important to note that Mr Tamfu is neither a member of the military, nor has has he been found in possession of weapons, nor has he been apprehended in a military barracks. Why then is he being summoned before a military judge? He questioned.
“He has suffered physical torture publicly administered by gendarmes, all of whom are officers of the judicial police and have been condemned by public opinion and the entire Bar” revealed Lawyer Meli. Lawyer Tamfu Richard’s case could not proceed with his interrogation today due to unresolved issues. His lawyer further explained that “only after notices have been served and the case file made available for consultation will the interrogation take place. Following these legal formalities, we his defense will submit our preliminary observations.”
The facts
This case stems from an altercation between Richard Tamfu and the police that took place on 27 November 2024 in Douala. The incident took place when the lawyer was opposing the arrest of one of his clients, who had been summoned for a case involving 20 million CFA francs. He challenged the legality of the arrest, arguing that a simple summons could not be substituted for a warrant.
In videos of the incident, Mr Richard Tamfu is seen being molested and trampled by gendarmes. A video that went viral on social media, provoking strong emotions and numerous people condemning the brutality. But contrary to all expectations, the investigation report signed on 6 December 2024 by the government commissioner at the Wouri military court revealed something quite different. The document that leaked on social media accused the lawyer of being the one who had attacked the gendarmes in the case.
This new development in the case then raised many questions about the exact circumstances of the incident and the authorities’ interpretation of the facts.
