The trial of two Guinean huissiers, Me Sory Daouda Camara and Me Mandjou Sangaré, accused by Ecobank Guinée of various crimes, including escroquerie au jugement and usurpation de titre, has been postponed to October 19. The two defendants, who have been in detention since September 29, appeared before the Cour de répression des infractions économiques et financières (CRIEF) on October 12.
According to Ecobank's representative, Alexandre Koulémou, the trouble began in April 2018 when Me Mandjou Sangaré, then a stagiaire of Me Sory Daouda Camara, presented himself at Ecobank's offices with a procès-verbal de saisie-attribution de créances targeting the company Africof. The document bore the seal of Me Sory Daouda Camara, but Ecobank's lawyers asked for proof that the ordonnance de saisie had been previously signified to the debtor.
Ecobank claims it was subsequently assigned to pay two million dollars to Africof following a procedure that revealed the acte had been signifié by an unassermented clerk. The bank stated it had suffered three saisies-attributions de créances on its assets and vehicles. Ecobank also noted that it had no business relations with Africof at the time of the alleged facts, having closed the company's accounts four years earlier.
The defendants' lawyer had requested their release, but the court rejected the request and postponed the trial to October 19 for réquisitions and plaidoiries. The detention of Me Sory Daouda Camara and Me Mandjou Sangaré has led to a general and unlimited strike by the Chambre nationale des huissiers de justice de Guinée since October 8.
The CRIEF court heard from Ecobank's representative, who detailed the events leading to the bank's alleged losses. The court will review the prosecution's requisitions and the defense's plaidoiries on October 19. Me Sory Daouda Camara and Me Mandjou Sangaré face multiple charges, including escroquerie au jugement, faux et usage de faux en écritures publiques et authentiques, usurpation de titre et de fonction, and complicité.
The Guinean justice system has been dealing with this case since September, when the two huissiers were first detained. The postponement of the trial has significant implications for the Chambre nationale des huissiers de justice de Guinée, which has been on strike since October 8 in response to the detention of its members.
The case has raised concerns about the integrity of the Guinean justice system and the potential consequences for Ecobank Guinée and other parties involved. The court's decision on October 19 will be closely watched by various stakeholders, including the Chambre nationale des huissiers de justice de Guinée and Ecobank Guinée.
Key points
- The trial of two Guinean huissiers accused by Ecobank has been postponed to October 19.
- The defendants, Me Sory Daouda Camara and Me Mandjou Sangaré, have been detained since September 29.
- The case has led to a general strike by the Chambre nationale des huissiers de justice de Guinée.
