Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Mimi Mefo Info
Published on 2024-03-06 11:53:12
The trial for the assassination of journalist Martinez Zogo is set to open on March 22nd. A total of 16 people have been indicted on charges of murder, complicity in murder, and complicity in torture, among others. Despite the optimism displayed by some organizations and observers, several points seem to have not been clarified during the course of the investigations.
The examining magistrate of the Military Tribunal, Narcisse Pierrot Nzie, has completed his investigation into the assassination of journalist Martinez Zogo. The 20-page referral order, which has leaked, reveals factual information about the plot, abduction, and assassination in January 2023 of the chief of Amplitude FM urban radio station.
However, several questions remain unanswered. Businessman Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga, according to the referral order, is clearly implicated by Justin Danwe, who coordinated the commando that kidnapped, tortured, and killed Martinez Zogo, as the mastermind behind the journalist’s murder. The same document states that Martin Savom, also implicated in the same case, gave money to Justin Danwe on the night of the abduction, which was then shared among the commando after the operation. However, the referral order fails to establish a link between Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga, identified as the mastermind, and Martin Savom. This raises several questions. Who is Martin Savom? How did he know about the punitive expedition against the journalist? What was his interest in funding the commando? Where did the money come from? Who does he work for? Why was he never mentioned by Justin Danwe during the investigation? Why was he never summoned? Why was he implicated in the case more than 10 months after the journalist’s assassination?
It is difficult to answer these questions, but it suggests either another level of complicity between Justin Danwe and Martin Savom, or that Danwe considered Savom’s role as secondary, or that Savom may have been acting on behalf of someone else whom Danwe does not want to name. It may also be possible that Savom, who was still the mayor of Bibey until his arrest, had some sort of protection that kept him out of harm’s way.
Regardless, the unfolding of events in this case raises suspicions of interference in the preliminary investigation and the trial itself.
Joseph Essama
Read the original article(French) on Mimi Mefo Info
