CHRC says Junior Ngombe not tortured during arrest, detention

The Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CHRC) says the social media activist, Junior Ngombe, was not tortured or physically abused throughout his arrest and detention at the State Secretariat of Defence (SED).

In a recent statement, the CHRC said it remains actively involved in the judicial proceedings against the 23-year-old, who was released Wednesday on bail.

He was freed after sustained efforts by a team of lawyers, headed by Akere Muna Esq.

Despite remaining silent throughout Ngombe’s nearly one-week detention, the CHRC claims it was monitoring the case from the beginning.

“Prompted by information spreading on social media about the arrest and detention of a young man named Junior Ngombe, the Observation, Investigation, and Alert Unit of the Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CHRC) conducted a fact-finding mission at the Central Judicial Investigation Service of the National Gendarmerie on Wednesday, July 31, 2024,” the CHRC stated.

The institution reported that its team held discussions with the Lieutenant Colonel in charge of the service and with Ngombe, who was about to be brought before the military court.

The commission confirmed that Ngombe was not physically abused while in detention and admitted to the charges against him.

“On the physical and detention conditions of Mr. Ngombe, Mr. Ngombe confirmed the information provided by the Lieutenant Colonel, indicated he was 23 years old, and voiced deep contrition for the accusations leveled against him,” the release stated.

According to the CHRC, Ngombe expressed gratitude to the Lieutenant Colonel for his paternal care, stating he was well treated, well fed, and did not experience any discomfort.

He also claimed he was not subjected to any torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment during his arrest, transfer from Douala to Yaoundé, and detention in the SED security rooms.

The CHRC noted that Ngombe was assisted by a group of lawyers and observed that he was clean, showed no signs of physical violence, was coherent, and freely expressed himself.

Ngombe was released on bail on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, by the Prosecutor of the Yaoundé Military Court.

His lead defence lawyer, Barrister Akere Muna, at a press conference on Wednesday, said Ngombe would be brought to court whenever need arises.

©Mimi Mefo Info