Cameroon Bar Request for the Investigation in the case of Barrister Tamfu Richard to be conducted de novo by an impartial organ or a joint team
The president of the Cameroon Bar Association has written to the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Defense regarding the investigations on the video that went viral showing gendarme officers of the Bonanjo Groupement maltreating Barrister Tamfu Ngarka Tristel Richard. The incident which took place on 27th November 2024 received wide condemnation from the civil society organisations and the Cameroon Bar Association.
In the letter to the Minister Delegate at the Presidency, the Cameroon Bar reiterated that they are aware that the audio was circulated online bearing a scene of confrontation between Barrister TAMFU NGARKA Tristel Richard and MEDJO EKO Celestine, NTAH Malvin TIKU, and BOUEN KIYAKI. The Bar President equally noted that complaints were launched by the gendarmes as well as Barrister TAMFU NGARKA Tristel Richard.
The letter further challenges the report of 6th December 2024 which circulated that Barrister TAMFU was accused of violence on a civil servant, destruction of military items, insults and obstruction of justice while the gendarmes were merely accused of abuse of office, slight harm and violation of orders.
The Cameroon Bar Association further expressed shock as they highlighted that from the From viral video, the offences of assault and torture which should have been the first against the gendarmes, were amongst others not identified on the report of 6th December 2024.
Taking into consideration that the Gendarmes equally laid a complaint, the Cameroon Bar President said in the letter that the complainant cannot be the investigator at the same time. “It is on this note of gross injustice and manifest impartiality that I seize your high office, urging you to instruct that the investigation of the said complaints be carried out by a joint team of police and gendarmes to guarantee a minimal level of fairness in the investigation. The grant of our request will not only ensure that Justice is done but manifestly seen to be done.”
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
