The former Divisional Officer (DO) for Lokoundje Subdivision in Cameroon’s South Region, Franck Derlin Eyono Ebanga, has been handed a 10-year jail term.
In a landmark ruling on March 6, the Ebolowa Military Court found him guilty of killing his 23-year-old girlfriend, Lydienne Solange Taba, three years ago.
The court also imposed a fine of FCFA 45 million to be paid to the victim’s family.
The case, which sent shockwaves through the town of Kribi, gained attention in July 2020 when Lydienne, a university student romantically involved with the Divisional Officer, met a tragic end.
Franck Derlin accidentally shot her, initially raising concerns that the case might be overlooked due to his government position.
However, the recent ruling by the Ebolowa Military Court has brought justice to the forefront, signaling the end of a lengthy legal process that has held public interest since the incident.
The court, in its judgment, underscored the use of a firearm in the fatal act and found Franck Derlin guilty.
Despite the accused’s apologies to the victim’s family, the court upheld his conviction for the crime.
The case had drawn attention not only for its tragic nature but also for the perceived delays and complexities in the legal proceedings.
Franck Derlin’s connections, rumored to extend to the presidential level, had led to concerns about the impartiality of the judicial process.
Three years ago, a 23-year-old pregnant student of the University of Douala, Lydienne Solange Taba, was shot at point-blank range by her lover, Mr. Ebanga Eyono, former DO of Lokoundje.
It took an outcry from the Cameroonian people, both home and in the diaspora, for the killer to be summoned by military justice.
Even though he was left free to move, questions lingered about the handling of the case by the judicial system.
The verdict, coming after years of anticipation and scrutiny, offers a sense of closure to the tragedy that deeply affected the city of Kribi.
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