Amougou Belinga’s lawyer opposes burial of Martinez Zogo, demands new autopsy

By Tata Mbunwe

Barrister Charles Tchoungang, lawyer of detained media mogul, Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga, has asked the Investigating Judge of the Martinez Zogo case to order for an autopsy to be re-conducted on the late journalist’s body, so as to determine if he was actually tortured at Belinga’s Ekang building with iron bars, as the preliminary investigation report claims.

An autopsy done after the journalist’s body was found indicated that he was severely tortured, forced to eat feces and parts of his body mutilated.

However, in a letter dated March 24, Barrister Tchoungang challenged the first autopsy.

He also opposed the burial of Martinez Zogo as earlier announced by some family members, arguing that it will conceal the truth about how the late Manager of Amplitude FM died.

“Moreover, given the information distilled in the press according to which the late radio host Mr. Martinez Zogo was allegedly tortured in the basement of the Ekang building belonging to our client, and that he was beaten there with iron bars after a surreal interview with the Minister of State, Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, the prospect of the burial of the victim seems to us to go against the search for the truth.

“This is why we very respectfully request that you kindly take actions that would contribute to the verification of these facts, in order to preserve the evidence that the burial of the victim could conceal,” Barrister Charles Tchoungang wrote.

His client Amougou Belinga was first dragged into the Martinez Zogo case after one of the suspects, Justin Danwe, Director of Special Operations at the Secret Service, confessed that the kidnapping and murder of Zogo was sponsored by Belinga.

The testimony, as reported by Reporters Without Borders, also claimed Zogo was tortured and killed in the basement of Ekang building, which is owned by Amougou Belinga.

However, Charles Tchoungang has repeated denied Belinga’s involvement in the journalist’s kidnap and murder, nearly two months since he was arrested and detained.

Amougou Belinga is also seeking bail at the Centre Region Court of Appeal after the request was rejected from the Military Court last week.

The bail appeal will be heard on April 13.

Mimi Mefo Info