1, July 2016

Biya rejects new Penal Code 0

The controversial Penal Code recently acclaimed expeditiously in the National Assembly has been rejected by President Paul Biya.  Cameroon Concord News learnt Biya has ordered a second reading of the document from those CPDM comedians passing for honorable members of parliament. The 83 years old leader has asked for a reformulation of the article concerning the immunities of cabinet ministers.

We understand Mr Biya wants the controversial Article 127 of the Penal Code which prescribes penalty of imprisonment from one to five years to magistrates or police officers entrenching on the immunity granted to members of government to be rewritten.

A group of Social Democratic Front MPs had raised an objection before the debate on the amendment and blocked the amendment of the Penal Code, citing non-compliance of the internal regulations of the National Assembly in its Article 64.3.  Work was suspended on Thursday with opposition members of parliament insisting that the ruling CPDM MPs must respect parliamentary procedures.

Sama Ernest (Cameroon Concord News)